diff --git a/terraform/github/branches.tf b/terraform/github/branches.tf
index 739291fe..00661f86 100644
--- a/terraform/github/branches.tf
+++ b/terraform/github/branches.tf
@@ -523,7 +523,7 @@ resource "github_branch_protection" "openstack_branch_protection_caracal" {
 }
 
 resource "github_branch_protection" "openstack_branch_protection_epoxy" {
-  for_each      = toset(var.repositories["OpenStack"])
+  for_each      = toset([for r in var.repositories["OpenStack"] : r if !contains(var.repositories["ZuulOnly"], r)])
   repository_id = data.github_repository.repositories[each.key].node_id
 
   pattern                         = "stackhpc/2025.1"
@@ -562,7 +562,7 @@ resource "github_branch_protection" "openstack_branch_protection_epoxy" {
 }
 
 resource "github_branch_protection" "openstack_branch_protection_gazpacho" {
-  for_each      = toset(var.repositories["OpenStack"])
+  for_each      = toset([for r in var.repositories["OpenStack"] : r if !contains(var.repositories["ZuulOnly"], r)])
   repository_id = data.github_repository.repositories[each.key].node_id
 
   pattern                         = "stackhpc/2026.1"
@@ -637,6 +637,75 @@ resource "github_branch_protection" "openstack_branch_protection_master" {
   }
 }
 
+# ZuulOnly: push_allowances contains only the Zuul GitHub App, so PRs can only be
+# merged by Zuul (typically after the "gate" label enqueues the change into its gate
+# pipeline). Neither the Developers team nor the owning team can merge directly.
+# Only the stackhpc/2025.1 and stackhpc/2026.1 branches are gated this way for now;
+# neutron's other branches keep normal OpenStack-group protection (see openstack_branch_protection_*).
+resource "github_branch_protection" "zuulonly_branch_protection_epoxy" {
+  for_each      = toset(var.repositories["ZuulOnly"])
+  repository_id = data.github_repository.repositories[each.key].node_id
+
+  pattern                         = "stackhpc/2025.1"
+  require_conversation_resolution = true
+  allows_deletions                = false
+  allows_force_pushes             = false
+
+  restrict_pushes {
+    blocks_creations = false
+    push_allowances = [
+      local.zuul_app_node_id
+    ]
+  }
+
+  required_pull_request_reviews {
+    dismiss_stale_reviews           = true
+    require_code_owner_reviews      = true
+    required_approving_review_count = 1
+  }
+
+  required_status_checks {
+    contexts = ["stackhpc/check"]
+    strict   = false
+  }
+
+  lifecycle {
+    prevent_destroy = true
+  }
+}
+
+resource "github_branch_protection" "zuulonly_branch_protection_gazpacho" {
+  for_each      = toset(var.repositories["ZuulOnly"])
+  repository_id = data.github_repository.repositories[each.key].node_id
+
+  pattern                         = "stackhpc/2026.1"
+  require_conversation_resolution = true
+  allows_deletions                = false
+  allows_force_pushes             = false
+
+  restrict_pushes {
+    blocks_creations = false
+    push_allowances = [
+      local.zuul_app_node_id
+    ]
+  }
+
+  required_pull_request_reviews {
+    dismiss_stale_reviews           = true
+    require_code_owner_reviews      = true
+    required_approving_review_count = 1
+  }
+
+  required_status_checks {
+    contexts = ["stackhpc/check"]
+    strict   = false
+  }
+
+  lifecycle {
+    prevent_destroy = true
+  }
+}
+
 resource "github_branch_protection" "platform_branch_protection" {
   for_each      = toset(var.repositories["Platform"])
   repository_id = data.github_repository.repositories[each.key].node_id
diff --git a/terraform/github/terraform.tfvars.json b/terraform/github/terraform.tfvars.json
index 4c30d4b2..885979f5 100644
--- a/terraform/github/terraform.tfvars.json
+++ b/terraform/github/terraform.tfvars.json
@@ -84,6 +84,9 @@
       "stackhpc-inspector-plugins"
     ],
     "Platform": [],
+    "ZuulOnly": [
+      "neutron"
+    ],
     "ReleaseTrain": [
       ".github",
       "ARC-Installer",
diff --git a/terraform/github/variables.tf b/terraform/github/variables.tf
index 4223a274..3582b9b0 100644
--- a/terraform/github/variables.tf
+++ b/terraform/github/variables.tf
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ variable "repositories" {
     "Platform"     = [],
     "ReleaseTrain" = [],
     "SMSLab"       = [],
+    "ZuulOnly"     = [],
   }
 }