diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index a314d56..9941a00 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -40,3 +40,11 @@ Preview locally with `python3 -m http.server 4173`.
   (`codegraph explore "<query>"`, or the code-review-graph MCP tools) BEFORE
   grep/find — it surfaces callers/callees/impact that text search misses.
 <!-- END cwl-agent-guidance -->
+
+## Code-owner review gates — disabled (on hold)
+
+As of 2026-08-04, code-owner review requirements (`require_code_owner_reviews` in branch
+protection, `require_code_owner_review` in rulesets) are disabled across the ContextualWisdomLab
+org: there is a single maintainer (solo developer), so a code-owner approval gate can never be
+satisfied. This is ON HOLD until the org has multiple maintainers — do NOT re-enable these
+settings or add CODEOWNERS-based merge gates before then.