diff --git a/roles/pagure/templates/pagure.cfg b/roles/pagure/templates/pagure.cfg
index f6c91909b0..61ed2bed39 100644
--- a/roles/pagure/templates/pagure.cfg
+++ b/roles/pagure/templates/pagure.cfg
@@ -402,6 +402,60 @@ LOGGING_GIT_HOOKS = {
         },
     }
 }
+{% if env == 'pagure-staging' %}
+# Setting ENABLE_UI_NEW_PROJECTS, ACLS, ADMIN_API_ACLS to stop
+# creation of new projects going forward on pagure.io
+ENABLE_UI_NEW_PROJECTS = False
+
+# this is the list of default ACLS, minus create_project
+USER_ACLS = [
+    "create_branch",
+    # "create_project",
+    "commit_flag",
+    "fork_project",
+    "issue_assign",
+    "issue_change_status",
+    "issue_comment",
+    "issue_create",
+    "issue_subscribe",
+    "issue_update",
+    "issue_update_custom_fields",
+    "issue_update_milestone",
+    "modify_project",
+    "pull_request_create",
+    "pull_request_close",
+    "pull_request_comment",
+    "pull_request_flag",
+    "pull_request_merge",
+    "pull_request_subscribe",
+    "pull_request_assign",
+    "pull_request_update",
+    "update_watch_status",
+    "pull_request_rebase",
+    "tag_project",
+    "commit",
+    "modify_git_alias",
+    "create_git_alias",
+    "delete_git_alias",
+    "group_modify",
+]
+
+# this is the list of default ADMIN_API_ACLS, plus create_project
+ADMIN_API_ACLS = [
+    "internal_access",
+    "issue_comment",
+    "issue_create",
+    "issue_change_status",
+    "pull_request_flag",
+    "pull_request_comment",
+    "pull_request_merge",
+    "group_modify",
+    "commit_flag",
+    "create_branch",
+    "tag_project",
+    "create_project",
+]
+{% endif %}
 
 CROSS_PROJECT_ACLS = [
     'create_project',