diff --git a/.github/CODEOWNERS b/.github/CODEOWNERS
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..06b1fb3d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/CODEOWNERS
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+# Default owners for code review
+*                           @react-ui-org/maintainers
+
+# Protect against unauthorized changes
+/.github/CODEOWNERS         @react-ui-org/maintainers
+
+# Hard gates — specific approval required regardless of availability
+
+# Infra & build tooling
+/docker/                    @bedrich-schindler @mbohal
+/docker-compose.yml         @bedrich-schindler @mbohal
+/webpack.config.babel.js    @bedrich-schindler @mbohal
+/babel.config.js            @bedrich-schindler @mbohal
+/jest.config.js             @bedrich-schindler @mbohal
+/.eslintrc                  @bedrich-schindler @mbohal
+
+# Styles & style tooling
+/src/theme.scss             @adamkudrna
+/stylelint.config.js        @adamkudrna
+/postcss.config.js          @adamkudrna
+
+# Soft gates — any team member can review, but relevant expert is notified
+*.md                        @adamkudrna @react-ui-org/maintainers
+/src/docs/                  @adamkudrna @react-ui-org/maintainers
+/src/styles/                @adamkudrna @react-ui-org/maintainers
diff --git a/.npmignore b/.npmignore
index 67b36a043..00a0a86d3 100644
--- a/.npmignore
+++ b/.npmignore
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
 .gitignore
 .markdownlint.jsonc
 babel.config.js
-CODEOWNERS
 docker-compose.yml
 jest.config.js
 mkdocs.yml
diff --git a/CODEOWNERS b/CODEOWNERS
deleted file mode 100644
index f5d47e753..000000000
--- a/CODEOWNERS
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,26 +0,0 @@
-# Default owners for code review
-*              @developers
-
-# Following code owners are temporarily disabled due to unavailability to merge PRs
-# @see https://github.com/react-ui-org/react-ui/issues/632
-
-# Default owners for file types
-# *.js           @mbohal @bedrich-schindler @developers
-# *.jsx          @mbohal @bedrich-schindler @developers
-# *.md           @adamkudrna @developers
-# *.scss         @adamkudrna @developers
-
-# Default owners for directories
-# /docker        @mbohal @bedrich-schindler @developers
-# /src/docs      @adamkudrna @developers
-
-# Default owners for specific files
-# /.browserslistrc            @adamkudrna @developers
-# /.eslintrc                  @mbohal @bedrich-schindler @developers
-# /.markdownlint.jsonc        @adamkudrna @developers
-# /babel.config.js            @mbohal @bedrich-schindler @developers
-# /docker-compose.yml         @mbohal @bedrich-schindler @developers
-# /jest.config.js             @mbohal @bedrich-schindler @developers
-# /postcss.config.js          @adamkudrna @developers
-# /stylelint.config.js        @adamkudrna @developers
-# /webpack.config.babel.js    @mbohal @bedrich-schindler @developers