Configuration

Create a .dbt-doctor file in your dbt project root.

Format: KEY=value (# comments allowed).

CLI flags override file values.

Minimal starter

preset=default
fail_on=error

Common setups

PR checks (recommended)

preset=strict
fail_on=warning
diff=main
manifest_path=target/manifest.json

Full governance

preset=enterprise
fail_on=warning
score_mode=files

Local-only fast mode

preset=default
fail_on=none

SQL mode

Native SQL rules are enabled by default.

Native only (no Python)

skip_sqlfluff=true

Use SQLFluff too

skip_sqlfluff=false
adopt_existing_sqlfluff_config=true

Most-used keys

Key	Values	Purpose
`preset`	`default`, `strict`, `enterprise`	Rule bundle
`fail_on`	`error`, `warning`, `none`	CI exit behavior
`diff`	`true` or branch name	Changed-files scan
`manifest_path`	file path	Enable manifest-aware checks
`score_mode`	`files`, `unique-rules`	Score formula
`fail_project_under`	number (0–100)	Fail when project score is below threshold
`fail_any_item_under`	number (0–100)	Fail when any per-model score is below threshold
`ignore.rules`	comma list	Skip specific rules
`ignore.files`	glob list	Skip all rules on files
`ignore.tags`	comma list	Skip rule families
`rules.<id>`	`error`, `warn`, `off`	Override one rule severity
`rules.<id>.<option>`	string/number/bool/list	Per-rule options

Preset behavior

If preset is omitted, dbt-doctor uses default.
strict = default + docs + SQL style checks.
enterprise = full catalog.

See Presets for details.

Focused override example

preset=strict
fail_on=warning

# Temporary legacy suppression
ignore.files=models/legacy/**

# Promote a specific rule
rules.no-select-star=error

# Rule-specific option
rules.model-name-contract.pattern=^(stg|int|fct|dim)_[a-z0-9_]+$

Score thresholds (CI gates)

Fail the job when scores drop below a minimum (requires a score to be computed - do not use --offline if you rely on these):

fail_project_under=70
fail_any_item_under=50

Combine with CLI flags --coverage and --show-per-model-scores when you want per-model visibility. See Score Modes.