Discord Server Rules Template (Copy and Paste)

October 26, 2026 · 5 min read

Rules exist so you can point at something when you remove a message or a member, instead of arguing. Short rules get read, and read rules get followed. Here is a set you can copy straight into your #rules channel, followed by a longer version and notes on what each rule is really doing.

The short template

Seven rules covers almost every community. Copy this in, change the server name, and you're done.

1. Be decent to people. No harassment, hate, slurs, or threats, including as a joke.
2. Keep it safe for work. No sexual, gory, or shocking content anywhere in the server.
3. No spam. That means repeat messages, mass pings, walls of emoji, and unsolicited DMs to members.
4. No advertising without permission. Ask a moderator before posting invites, shops, or your own channel.
5. Use the right channel, and keep topics where they belong.
6. No doxxing or leaking. Don't post anyone's personal information, including your own, and don't screenshot DMs to start fights.
7. Follow Discord's Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. You must be 13 or older to be here.

Tip: End your rules with one line about enforcement, such as "Breaking these can mean a warning, a mute, a kick, or a ban, depending on how bad it is. Moderators have the final say." It saves a lot of arguing later.

The longer version

Bigger or more public servers usually need a few more lines. Add these to the seven above.

• English (or your server's language) in public channels, so moderators can read what's happening.
• One account per person, and no alt accounts to get around a punishment.
• No drama from other servers. Take it up where it started.
• No impersonating staff, members, or anyone else, including with your nickname or avatar.
• Keep voice chat clean: no ear-rape, no channel hopping, no playing music over people.
• Don't backseat moderate. If someone breaks a rule, report it instead of piling on.
• Appeals go to a moderator in DMs, not in public channels.

What each rule is actually for

• The decency rule is the one you'll use most. Keep it first and keep it broad, so you don't need a separate rule for every new way people are rude.
• The safe-for-work rule protects you as much as your members. Without it, one bad image can get your server reported.
• The spam rule gives you grounds to remove raiders fast, before you've had time to explain anything.
• The advertising rule stops your server becoming a billboard. "Ask first" works better than a flat no, because it lets you say yes to friends.
• The doxxing rule is the one worth being strict on. It's the hardest harm to undo.
• The Discord Terms of Service line matters because underage accounts and ToS breaks can get the whole server taken down, not just the member.

Getting members to agree to them

Reading the rules and agreeing to them are different things. Two ways to make it stick:

1. Turn on Discord's built-in Rules Screening in Server Settings under Membership Screening. New members must tick a box before they can talk. This is the simplest option and works on any Community server.
2. Use a reaction role on your #rules channel, where reacting gives a Member role that unlocks the rest of the server. It takes a bot, but it also hides your channels from anyone who hasn't agreed.

Tip: Keep #rules read-only for members and pin nothing else in it. If people can chat in the rules channel, the rules scroll away.

Keeping them up to date

Add a rule only after a problem happens twice. A rule for every one-off incident leaves you with a wall of text nobody reads. When you do change the rules, say so in #announcements, because members shouldn't be punished under a rule that appeared quietly.

Set it up automatically

ServerForge builds the structure these rules depend on: a read-only #rules channel, an #announcements channel members can't post in, a private staff area, and roles with sensible permissions. Describe your community or pick a template, check it over in the builder, and deploy it to your server.