diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/ClusterService.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/ClusterService.java
index 1d21de7..3fb007d 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/ClusterService.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/ClusterService.java
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@
 
 import java.util.Set;
 
+import org.joda.time.DateTime;
+
 /**
  * Service for obtaining information about the individual nodes within
  * the controller cluster.
@@ -54,6 +56,14 @@
     ControllerNode.State getState(NodeId nodeId);
 
     /**
+     * Returns the system time when the availability state was last updated.
+     *
+     * @param nodeId controller node identifier
+     * @return system time when the availability state was last updated.
+     */
+    DateTime getLastUpdated(NodeId nodeId);
+
+    /**
      * Adds the specified cluster event listener.
      *
      * @param listener the cluster listener
diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/ClusterStore.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/ClusterStore.java
index bb0c91c..4229e6a 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/ClusterStore.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/ClusterStore.java
@@ -15,11 +15,12 @@
  */
 package org.onosproject.cluster;
 
-import org.onosproject.store.Store;
-import org.onlab.packet.IpAddress;
-
 import java.util.Set;
 
+import org.joda.time.DateTime;
+import org.onlab.packet.IpAddress;
+import org.onosproject.store.Store;
+
 /**
  * Manages inventory of controller cluster nodes; not intended for direct use.
  */
@@ -56,6 +57,14 @@
     ControllerNode.State getState(NodeId nodeId);
 
     /**
+     * Returns the system when the availability state was last updated.
+     *
+     * @param nodeId controller node identifier
+     * @return system time when the availability state was last updated.
+     */
+    DateTime getLastUpdated(NodeId nodeId);
+
+    /**
      * Adds a new controller node to the cluster.
      *
      * @param nodeId  controller node identifier
diff --git a/core/api/src/test/java/org/onosproject/cluster/ClusterServiceAdapter.java b/core/api/src/test/java/org/onosproject/cluster/ClusterServiceAdapter.java
index 35b5a6d..5afaec6 100644
--- a/core/api/src/test/java/org/onosproject/cluster/ClusterServiceAdapter.java
+++ b/core/api/src/test/java/org/onosproject/cluster/ClusterServiceAdapter.java
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@
 
 import java.util.Set;
 
+import org.joda.time.DateTime;
+
 /**
  * Test adapter for the cluster service.
  */
@@ -42,6 +44,11 @@
     }
 
     @Override
+    public DateTime getLastUpdated(NodeId nodeId) {
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    @Override
     public void addListener(ClusterEventListener listener) {
     }
 
diff --git a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/impl/ClusterManager.java b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/impl/ClusterManager.java
index a7c3902..d9da6c6 100644
--- a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/impl/ClusterManager.java
+++ b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/impl/ClusterManager.java
@@ -15,12 +15,20 @@
  */
 package org.onosproject.cluster.impl;
 
+import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkArgument;
+import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkNotNull;
+import static org.slf4j.LoggerFactory.getLogger;
+
+import java.util.Set;
+
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Activate;
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Component;
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Deactivate;
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Reference;
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.ReferenceCardinality;
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Service;
+import org.joda.time.DateTime;
+import org.onlab.packet.IpAddress;
 import org.onosproject.cluster.ClusterAdminService;
 import org.onosproject.cluster.ClusterEvent;
 import org.onosproject.cluster.ClusterEventListener;
@@ -31,15 +39,8 @@
 import org.onosproject.cluster.NodeId;
 import org.onosproject.event.AbstractListenerRegistry;
 import org.onosproject.event.EventDeliveryService;
-import org.onlab.packet.IpAddress;
 import org.slf4j.Logger;
 
-import java.util.Set;
-
-import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkArgument;
-import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkNotNull;
-import static org.slf4j.LoggerFactory.getLogger;
-
 /**
  * Implementation of the cluster service.
  */
@@ -97,6 +98,12 @@
         return store.getState(nodeId);
     }
 
+
+    @Override
+    public DateTime getLastUpdated(NodeId nodeId) {
+        return store.getLastUpdated(nodeId);
+    }
+
     @Override
     public ControllerNode addNode(NodeId nodeId, IpAddress ip, int tcpPort) {
         checkNotNull(nodeId, INSTANCE_ID_NULL);
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/impl/DistributedClusterStore.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/impl/DistributedClusterStore.java
index 213d0f4..90fbd60 100644
--- a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/impl/DistributedClusterStore.java
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/impl/DistributedClusterStore.java
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Component;
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Deactivate;
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Service;
+import org.joda.time.DateTime;
 import org.onlab.netty.Endpoint;
 import org.onlab.netty.Message;
 import org.onlab.netty.MessageHandler;
@@ -99,6 +100,7 @@
     private Set<ControllerNode> seedNodes;
     private final Map<NodeId, ControllerNode> allNodes = Maps.newConcurrentMap();
     private final Map<NodeId, State> nodeStates = Maps.newConcurrentMap();
+    private final Map<NodeId, DateTime> nodeStateLastUpdatedTimes = Maps.newConcurrentMap();
     private NettyMessagingService messagingService = new NettyMessagingService();
     private ScheduledExecutorService heartBeatSender = Executors.newSingleThreadScheduledExecutor(
             groupedThreads("onos/cluster/membership", "heartbeat-sender"));
@@ -131,7 +133,7 @@
 
         seedNodes.forEach(node -> {
             allNodes.put(node.id(), node);
-            nodeStates.put(node.id(), State.INACTIVE);
+            updateState(node.id(), State.INACTIVE);
         });
 
         establishSelfIdentity();
@@ -216,7 +218,7 @@
         checkArgument(tcpPort > 5000, "Tcp port must be greater than 5000");
         ControllerNode node = new DefaultControllerNode(nodeId, ip, tcpPort);
         allNodes.put(node.id(), node);
-        nodeStates.put(nodeId, State.INACTIVE);
+        updateState(nodeId, State.INACTIVE);
         delegate.notify(new ClusterEvent(ClusterEvent.Type.INSTANCE_ADDED, node));
         return node;
     }
@@ -231,12 +233,17 @@
         }
     }
 
+    private void updateState(NodeId nodeId, State newState) {
+        nodeStates.put(nodeId, newState);
+        nodeStateLastUpdatedTimes.put(nodeId, DateTime.now());
+    }
+
     private void establishSelfIdentity() {
         try {
             IpAddress ip = findLocalIp();
             localNode = new DefaultControllerNode(new NodeId(ip.toString()), ip);
             allNodes.put(localNode.id(), localNode);
-            nodeStates.put(localNode.id(), State.ACTIVE);
+            updateState(localNode.id(), State.ACTIVE);
             log.info("Local Node: {}", localNode);
         } catch (SocketException e) {
             throw new IllegalStateException("Cannot determine local IP", e);
@@ -256,12 +263,12 @@
                 double phi = failureDetector.phi(node.id());
                 if (phi >= PHI_FAILURE_THRESHOLD) {
                     if (currentState == State.ACTIVE) {
-                        nodeStates.put(node.id(), State.INACTIVE);
+                        updateState(node.id(), State.INACTIVE);
                         notifyStateChange(node.id(), State.ACTIVE, State.INACTIVE);
                     }
                 } else {
                     if (currentState == State.INACTIVE) {
-                        nodeStates.put(node.id(), State.ACTIVE);
+                        updateState(node.id(), State.ACTIVE);
                         notifyStateChange(node.id(), State.INACTIVE, State.ACTIVE);
                     }
                 }
@@ -334,4 +341,8 @@
         }
     }
 
-}
+    @Override
+    public DateTime getLastUpdated(NodeId nodeId) {
+        return nodeStateLastUpdatedTimes.get(nodeId);
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/impl/HazelcastClusterStore.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/impl/HazelcastClusterStore.java
index d32f7a8..55d877d 100644
--- a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/impl/HazelcastClusterStore.java
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/impl/HazelcastClusterStore.java
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 import com.google.common.base.Optional;
 import com.google.common.cache.LoadingCache;
 import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableSet;
+import com.google.common.collect.Maps;
 import com.hazelcast.core.IMap;
 import com.hazelcast.core.Member;
 import com.hazelcast.core.MemberAttributeEvent;
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Component;
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Deactivate;
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Service;
+import org.joda.time.DateTime;
 import org.onosproject.cluster.ClusterEvent;
 import org.onosproject.cluster.ClusterStore;
 import org.onosproject.cluster.ClusterStoreDelegate;
@@ -63,6 +65,7 @@
     private String listenerId;
     private final MembershipListener listener = new InternalMembershipListener();
     private final Map<NodeId, State> states = new ConcurrentHashMap<>();
+    private final Map<NodeId, DateTime> lastUpdatedTimes = Maps.newConcurrentMap();
 
     private String nodesListenerId;
 
@@ -123,6 +126,11 @@
     }
 
     @Override
+    public DateTime getLastUpdated(NodeId nodeId) {
+        return lastUpdatedTimes.get(nodeId);
+    }
+
+    @Override
     public ControllerNode addNode(NodeId nodeId, IpAddress ip, int tcpPort) {
         return addNode(new DefaultControllerNode(nodeId, ip, tcpPort));
     }
@@ -139,7 +147,7 @@
     private synchronized ControllerNode addNode(DefaultControllerNode node) {
         rawNodes.put(serialize(node.id()), serialize(node));
         nodes.put(node.id(), Optional.of(node));
-        states.put(node.id(), State.ACTIVE);
+        updateState(node.id(), State.ACTIVE);
         return node;
     }
 
@@ -153,6 +161,11 @@
         return IpAddress.valueOf(member.getSocketAddress().getAddress());
     }
 
+    private void updateState(NodeId nodeId, State newState) {
+        updateState(nodeId, newState);
+        lastUpdatedTimes.put(nodeId, DateTime.now());
+    }
+
     // Interceptor for membership events.
     private class InternalMembershipListener implements MembershipListener {
         @Override
@@ -166,7 +179,7 @@
         public void memberRemoved(MembershipEvent membershipEvent) {
             log.info("Member {} removed", membershipEvent.getMember());
             NodeId nodeId = new NodeId(memberAddress(membershipEvent.getMember()).toString());
-            states.put(nodeId, State.INACTIVE);
+            updateState(nodeId, State.INACTIVE);
             notifyDelegate(new ClusterEvent(INSTANCE_DEACTIVATED, getNode(nodeId)));
         }
 
@@ -178,4 +191,4 @@
                      memberAttributeEvent.getValue());
         }
     }
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/core/store/trivial/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/trivial/impl/SimpleClusterStore.java b/core/store/trivial/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/trivial/impl/SimpleClusterStore.java
index 20ede86..3849555 100644
--- a/core/store/trivial/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/trivial/impl/SimpleClusterStore.java
+++ b/core/store/trivial/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/trivial/impl/SimpleClusterStore.java
@@ -15,11 +15,16 @@
  */
 package org.onosproject.store.trivial.impl;
 
-import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableSet;
+import static org.slf4j.LoggerFactory.getLogger;
+
+import java.util.Set;
+
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Activate;
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Component;
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Deactivate;
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Service;
+import org.joda.time.DateTime;
+import org.onlab.packet.IpAddress;
 import org.onosproject.cluster.ClusterEvent;
 import org.onosproject.cluster.ClusterStore;
 import org.onosproject.cluster.ClusterStoreDelegate;
@@ -29,12 +34,9 @@
 import org.onosproject.net.intent.Key;
 import org.onosproject.net.intent.PartitionService;
 import org.onosproject.store.AbstractStore;
-import org.onlab.packet.IpAddress;
 import org.slf4j.Logger;
 
-import java.util.Set;
-
-import static org.slf4j.LoggerFactory.getLogger;
+import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableSet;
 
 /**
  * Manages inventory of infrastructure devices using trivial in-memory
@@ -52,6 +54,8 @@
 
     private ControllerNode instance;
 
+    private final DateTime creationTime = DateTime.now();
+
     @Activate
     public void activate() {
         instance = new DefaultControllerNode(new NodeId("local"), LOCALHOST);
@@ -85,6 +89,11 @@
     }
 
     @Override
+    public DateTime getLastUpdated(NodeId nodeId) {
+        return creationTime;
+    }
+
+    @Override
     public ControllerNode addNode(NodeId nodeId, IpAddress ip, int tcpPort) {
         return null;
     }
diff --git a/core/store/trivial/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/trivial/impl/SimpleMastershipStore.java b/core/store/trivial/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/trivial/impl/SimpleMastershipStore.java
index f9e4273..df810dc 100644
--- a/core/store/trivial/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/trivial/impl/SimpleMastershipStore.java
+++ b/core/store/trivial/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/trivial/impl/SimpleMastershipStore.java
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
  */
 package org.onosproject.store.trivial.impl;
 
+import static org.onosproject.mastership.MastershipEvent.Type.BACKUPS_CHANGED;
+import static org.onosproject.mastership.MastershipEvent.Type.MASTER_CHANGED;
 import static org.slf4j.LoggerFactory.getLogger;
 
 import java.util.ArrayList;
@@ -33,6 +35,8 @@
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Reference;
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.ReferenceCardinality;
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Service;
+import org.joda.time.DateTime;
+import org.onlab.packet.IpAddress;
 import org.onosproject.cluster.ClusterEventListener;
 import org.onosproject.cluster.ClusterService;
 import org.onosproject.cluster.ControllerNode;
@@ -47,14 +51,11 @@
 import org.onosproject.net.DeviceId;
 import org.onosproject.net.MastershipRole;
 import org.onosproject.store.AbstractStore;
-import org.onlab.packet.IpAddress;
 import org.slf4j.Logger;
 
 import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableList;
 import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableSet;
 
-import static org.onosproject.mastership.MastershipEvent.Type.*;
-
 /**
  * Manages inventory of controller mastership over devices using
  * trivial, non-distributed in-memory structures implementation.
@@ -90,6 +91,8 @@
 
             clusterService = new ClusterService() {
 
+                private final DateTime creationTime = DateTime.now();
+
                 @Override
                 public ControllerNode getLocalNode() {
                     return instance;
@@ -118,6 +121,11 @@
                 }
 
                 @Override
+                public DateTime getLastUpdated(NodeId nodeId) {
+                    return creationTime;
+                }
+
+                @Override
                 public void addListener(ClusterEventListener listener) {
                 }