diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8757149ac..93b6dbc37 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -41,6 +41,9 @@ Though the experience is not that refined...
 # Start the stack in the background
 docker compose up -d
 
+# Local Compose disables reCAPTCHA by default. Set RECAPTCHA_ENABLED=true
+# only when both the UI site key and API secret are configured.
+
 # Stop the stack and delete all volumes
 docker compose down --volumes
 ```
diff --git a/app/Rules/ReCaptchaValidation.php b/app/Rules/ReCaptchaValidation.php
index b26437a7f..facaecd60 100644
--- a/app/Rules/ReCaptchaValidation.php
+++ b/app/Rules/ReCaptchaValidation.php
@@ -91,6 +91,10 @@ private function verify($token) {
      * @return bool
      */
     public function passes($attribute, $value) {
+        if (config('app.env') === 'local' && config('recaptcha.enabled') === false) {
+            return true;
+        }
+
         $recaptchaResponse = $this->verify($value);
 
         if ($this->verifyHostname($recaptchaResponse->getHostname()) === false) {
diff --git a/config/recaptcha.php b/config/recaptcha.php
index b7ba8ecdb..eaa7bcd4d 100644
--- a/config/recaptcha.php
+++ b/config/recaptcha.php
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 <?php
 
 return [
+    'enabled' => env('RECAPTCHA_ENABLED', true),
     'secret_key' => env('RECAPTCHA_V3_SECRET_KEY', 'config/recaptcha.php: no-secret-key-set!'),
     'min_score' => env('RECAPTCHA_V3_MIN_SCORE', 0.5),
 ];
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index e14f0e183..072f3ea0d 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ services:
       - redis
     environment:
       - CONTAINER_ROLE=app
+      - RECAPTCHA_ENABLED=${RECAPTCHA_ENABLED:-false}
   sql:
     image: "${DOCKER_DATABASE_IMAGE_NAME}"
     environment:
diff --git a/tests/Validation/ReCaptchaValidationTest.php b/tests/Validation/ReCaptchaValidationTest.php
index b89bb5d69..9833a6557 100644
--- a/tests/Validation/ReCaptchaValidationTest.php
+++ b/tests/Validation/ReCaptchaValidationTest.php
@@ -66,6 +66,31 @@ public function testBypassFails() {
         );
     }
 
+    public function testRecaptchaCanBeDisabledInLocalDevelopment() {
+        config([
+            'app.env' => 'local',
+            'recaptcha.enabled' => false,
+        ]);
+
+        $rule = $this->buildReCaptchaValidation();
+
+        $this->assertTrue($rule->passes('token', ''));
+    }
+
+    public function testRecaptchaCannotBeDisabledOutsideLocalDevelopment() {
+        config([
+            'app.env' => 'production',
+            'recaptcha.enabled' => false,
+        ]);
+
+        $mockReCaptcha = $this->buildMockedReCaptcha(
+            $this->buildReCaptchaFakeResponse(['success' => false])
+        );
+        $rule = $this->buildReCaptchaValidation($mockReCaptcha);
+
+        $this->assertFalse($rule->passes('token', 'someToken'));
+    }
+
     public function testLowScore() {
         $fakeResponse = $this->buildReCaptchaFakeResponse([
             'score' => config('recaptcha.min_score') - 1,