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require-codeowners-file

Require a CODEOWNERS file for deterministic review ownership.

Targeted pattern scope​

This rule checks for a CODEOWNERS file in any accepted location:

  • CODEOWNERS
  • .github/CODEOWNERS
  • .gitlab/CODEOWNERS
  • .bitbucket/CODEOWNERS
  • docs/CODEOWNERS

What this rule reports​

This rule reports repositories that do not define code ownership anywhere in the accepted locations.

Why this rule exists​

When ownership is implicit, review routing becomes tribal knowledge.

CODEOWNERS gives teams a stable, automatable mapping between files and the people or groups responsible for reviewing them.

❌ Incorrect​

// Repository files
// .
// ├── README.md
// ├── SECURITY.md
// └── .github/
//     └── workflows/
//
// Missing: CODEOWNERS in root, .github/, .gitlab/, .bitbucket/, or docs/

✅ Correct​

// Repository files
// .
// ├── CODEOWNERS
// ├── README.md
// └── .github/
// Repository files
// .
// ├── README.md
// └── .github/
//     └── CODEOWNERS
// Repository files
// .
// ├── README.md
// └── .gitlab/
//     └── CODEOWNERS
// Repository files
// .
// ├── README.md
// └── .bitbucket/
//     └── CODEOWNERS

ESLint flat config example​

import repoPlugin from "eslint-plugin-repo";

export default [
  repoPlugin.configs.strict,
  {
    plugins: { "repo-compliance": repoPlugin },
    rules: {
      "repo-compliance/require-codeowners-file": "error",
    },
  },
];

When not to use it​

Disable this rule only if your review ownership model is intentionally manual or managed through a platform feature that does not rely on CODEOWNERS.

Rule catalog ID: R007

Further reading​