2026-06-28 00:36:29 +00:00
13 changed files with 345 additions and 19 deletions
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 ## [Unreleased]

 ### Added
+- Branch protection delete allowlist: configurable per-user/team/deploy-key allowlist for deleting protected branches (#696)
 - Workflow subdirectory discovery: workflows in subdirectories of `.mokogitea/workflows/` are now auto-discovered (#693)
 - API token scope `read:licensing` / `write:licensing` for licensing endpoints (#697)
 - Edit API token scopes: PATCH /users/{username}/tokens/{id} API endpoint + web UI edit button (#697)
@@ -51,6 +51,12 @@ type ProtectedBranch struct {
 	WhitelistActionsUser          bool     `xorm:"NOT NULL DEFAULT false"`
 	MergeWhitelistActionsUser     bool     `xorm:"NOT NULL DEFAULT false"`
 	ForcePushAllowlistActionsUser bool     `xorm:"NOT NULL DEFAULT false"`
+	CanDelete                     bool     `xorm:"NOT NULL DEFAULT false"`
+	EnableDeleteAllowlist         bool     `xorm:"NOT NULL DEFAULT false"`
+	DeleteAllowlistUserIDs        []int64  `xorm:"JSON TEXT"`
+	DeleteAllowlistTeamIDs        []int64  `xorm:"JSON TEXT"`
+	DeleteAllowlistDeployKeys     bool     `xorm:"NOT NULL DEFAULT false"`
+	DeleteAllowlistActionsUser    bool     `xorm:"NOT NULL DEFAULT false"`
 	EnableStatusCheck             bool     `xorm:"NOT NULL DEFAULT false"`
 	StatusCheckContexts           []string `xorm:"JSON TEXT"`
 	EnableApprovalsWhitelist      bool     `xorm:"NOT NULL DEFAULT false"`
@@ -194,6 +200,46 @@ func (protectBranch *ProtectedBranch) CanUserForcePush(ctx context.Context, user
 	return in && protectBranch.CanUserPush(ctx, user)
 }

+// CanUserDelete returns if some user could delete this protected branch
+func (protectBranch *ProtectedBranch) CanUserDelete(ctx context.Context, user *user_model.User) bool {
+	if !protectBranch.CanDelete {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	if user.IsActions() && protectBranch.DeleteAllowlistActionsUser {
+		return true
+	}
+
+	if !protectBranch.EnableDeleteAllowlist {
+		if err := protectBranch.LoadRepo(ctx); err != nil {
+			log.Error("LoadRepo: %v", err)
+			return false
+		}
+
+		isAdmin, err := access_model.HasAccessUnit(ctx, user, protectBranch.Repo, unit.TypeCode, perm.AccessModeAdmin)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Error("HasAccessUnit: %v", err)
+			return false
+		}
+		return isAdmin
+	}
+
+	if slices.Contains(protectBranch.DeleteAllowlistUserIDs, user.ID) {
+		return true
+	}
+
+	if len(protectBranch.DeleteAllowlistTeamIDs) == 0 {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	in, err := organization.IsUserInTeams(ctx, user.ID, protectBranch.DeleteAllowlistTeamIDs)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Error("IsUserInTeams: %v", err)
+		return false
+	}
+	return in
+}
+
 // IsUserMergeWhitelisted checks if some user is whitelisted to merge to this branch
 func IsUserMergeWhitelisted(ctx context.Context, protectBranch *ProtectedBranch, userID int64, permissionInRepo access_model.Permission) bool {
 	// Allow the actions bot user if explicitly whitelisted.
@@ -365,6 +411,9 @@ type WhitelistOptions struct {

 	ApprovalsUserIDs []int64
 	ApprovalsTeamIDs []int64
+
+	DeleteUserIDs []int64
+	DeleteTeamIDs []int64
 }

 // UpdateProtectBranch saves branch protection options of repository.
@@ -430,6 +479,18 @@ func UpdateProtectBranch(ctx context.Context, repo *repo_model.Repository, prote
 	}
 	protectBranch.ApprovalsWhitelistTeamIDs = whitelist

+	whitelist, err = updateUserWhitelist(ctx, repo, protectBranch.DeleteAllowlistUserIDs, opts.DeleteUserIDs)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	protectBranch.DeleteAllowlistUserIDs = whitelist
+
+	whitelist, err = updateTeamWhitelist(ctx, repo, protectBranch.DeleteAllowlistTeamIDs, opts.DeleteTeamIDs)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	protectBranch.DeleteAllowlistTeamIDs = whitelist
+
 	// Looks like it's a new rule
 	if protectBranch.ID == 0 {
 		// as it's a new rule and if priority was not set, we need to calc it.
@@ -574,14 +635,15 @@ func DeleteProtectedBranch(ctx context.Context, repo *repo_model.Repository, id

 // removeIDsFromProtectedBranch is a helper function to remove IDs from protected branch options
 func removeIDsFromProtectedBranch(ctx context.Context, p *ProtectedBranch, userID, teamID int64, columnNames []string) error {
-	lenUserIDs, lenForcePushIDs, lenApprovalIDs, lenMergeIDs := len(p.WhitelistUserIDs), len(p.ForcePushAllowlistUserIDs), len(p.ApprovalsWhitelistUserIDs), len(p.MergeWhitelistUserIDs)
-	lenTeamIDs, lenForcePushTeamIDs, lenApprovalTeamIDs, lenMergeTeamIDs := len(p.WhitelistTeamIDs), len(p.ForcePushAllowlistTeamIDs), len(p.ApprovalsWhitelistTeamIDs), len(p.MergeWhitelistTeamIDs)
+	lenUserIDs, lenForcePushIDs, lenApprovalIDs, lenMergeIDs, lenDeleteIDs := len(p.WhitelistUserIDs), len(p.ForcePushAllowlistUserIDs), len(p.ApprovalsWhitelistUserIDs), len(p.MergeWhitelistUserIDs), len(p.DeleteAllowlistUserIDs)
+	lenTeamIDs, lenForcePushTeamIDs, lenApprovalTeamIDs, lenMergeTeamIDs, lenDeleteTeamIDs := len(p.WhitelistTeamIDs), len(p.ForcePushAllowlistTeamIDs), len(p.ApprovalsWhitelistTeamIDs), len(p.MergeWhitelistTeamIDs), len(p.DeleteAllowlistTeamIDs)

 	if userID > 0 {
 		p.WhitelistUserIDs = util.SliceRemoveAll(p.WhitelistUserIDs, userID)
 		p.ForcePushAllowlistUserIDs = util.SliceRemoveAll(p.ForcePushAllowlistUserIDs, userID)
 		p.ApprovalsWhitelistUserIDs = util.SliceRemoveAll(p.ApprovalsWhitelistUserIDs, userID)
 		p.MergeWhitelistUserIDs = util.SliceRemoveAll(p.MergeWhitelistUserIDs, userID)
+		p.DeleteAllowlistUserIDs = util.SliceRemoveAll(p.DeleteAllowlistUserIDs, userID)
 	}

 	if teamID > 0 {
@@ -589,16 +651,19 @@ func removeIDsFromProtectedBranch(ctx context.Context, p *ProtectedBranch, userI
 		p.ForcePushAllowlistTeamIDs = util.SliceRemoveAll(p.ForcePushAllowlistTeamIDs, teamID)
 		p.ApprovalsWhitelistTeamIDs = util.SliceRemoveAll(p.ApprovalsWhitelistTeamIDs, teamID)
 		p.MergeWhitelistTeamIDs = util.SliceRemoveAll(p.MergeWhitelistTeamIDs, teamID)
+		p.DeleteAllowlistTeamIDs = util.SliceRemoveAll(p.DeleteAllowlistTeamIDs, teamID)
 	}

 	if (lenUserIDs != len(p.WhitelistUserIDs) ||
 		lenForcePushIDs != len(p.ForcePushAllowlistUserIDs) ||
 		lenApprovalIDs != len(p.ApprovalsWhitelistUserIDs) ||
-		lenMergeIDs != len(p.MergeWhitelistUserIDs)) ||
+		lenMergeIDs != len(p.MergeWhitelistUserIDs) ||
+		lenDeleteIDs != len(p.DeleteAllowlistUserIDs)) ||
 		(lenTeamIDs != len(p.WhitelistTeamIDs) ||
 			lenForcePushTeamIDs != len(p.ForcePushAllowlistTeamIDs) ||
 			lenApprovalTeamIDs != len(p.ApprovalsWhitelistTeamIDs) ||
-			lenMergeTeamIDs != len(p.MergeWhitelistTeamIDs)) {
+			lenMergeTeamIDs != len(p.MergeWhitelistTeamIDs) ||
+			lenDeleteTeamIDs != len(p.DeleteAllowlistTeamIDs)) {
 		if _, err := db.GetEngine(ctx).ID(p.ID).Cols(columnNames...).Update(p); err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("updateProtectedBranches: %v", err)
 		}
@@ -613,6 +678,7 @@ func RemoveUserIDFromProtectedBranch(ctx context.Context, p *ProtectedBranch, us
 		"force_push_allowlist_user_i_ds",
 		"merge_whitelist_user_i_ds",
 		"approvals_whitelist_user_i_ds",
+		"delete_allowlist_user_i_ds",
 	}
 	return removeIDsFromProtectedBranch(ctx, p, userID, 0, columnNames)
 }
@@ -624,6 +690,7 @@ func RemoveTeamIDFromProtectedBranch(ctx context.Context, p *ProtectedBranch, te
 		"force_push_allowlist_team_i_ds",
 		"merge_whitelist_team_i_ds",
 		"approvals_whitelist_team_i_ds",
+		"delete_allowlist_team_i_ds",
 	}
 	return removeIDsFromProtectedBranch(ctx, p, 0, teamID, columnNames)
 }
@@ -437,6 +437,7 @@ func prepareMigrationTasks() []*migration {
 		newMigration(357, "Drop display_name from repo manifest and update stream config", v1_27.DropDisplayNameColumns),
 		newMigration(358, "Add licensing tables (license, entitlement, activation, product_tier)", v1_27.AddLicensingTables),
 		newMigration(359, "Add deploy fields to repo manifest", v1_27.AddDeployFieldsToRepoManifest),
+		newMigration(360, "Add delete allowlist to protected branch", v1_27.AddDeleteAllowlistToProtectedBranch),
 	}
 	return preparedMigrations
 }
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+// Copyright 2026 Moko Consulting <hello@mokoconsulting.tech>
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+package v1_27
+
+import (
+	"xorm.io/xorm"
+)
+
+func AddDeleteAllowlistToProtectedBranch(x *xorm.Engine) error {
+	type ProtectedBranch struct {
+		CanDelete                  bool    `xorm:"NOT NULL DEFAULT false"`
+		EnableDeleteAllowlist      bool    `xorm:"NOT NULL DEFAULT false"`
+		DeleteAllowlistUserIDs     []int64 `xorm:"JSON TEXT"`
+		DeleteAllowlistTeamIDs     []int64 `xorm:"JSON TEXT"`
+		DeleteAllowlistDeployKeys  bool    `xorm:"NOT NULL DEFAULT false"`
+		DeleteAllowlistActionsUser bool    `xorm:"NOT NULL DEFAULT false"`
+	}
+	return x.Sync(new(ProtectedBranch))
+}
@@ -48,7 +48,13 @@ type BranchProtection struct {
 	ForcePushAllowlistUsernames   []string `json:"force_push_allowlist_usernames"`
 	ForcePushAllowlistTeams       []string `json:"force_push_allowlist_teams"`
 	ForcePushAllowlistDeployKeys  bool     `json:"force_push_allowlist_deploy_keys"`
-	ForcePushAllowlistActionsUser bool     `json:"force_push_allowlist_actions_user"`
+	ForcePushAllowlistActionsUser  bool     `json:"force_push_allowlist_actions_user"`
+	EnableDelete                  bool     `json:"enable_delete"`
+	EnableDeleteAllowlist         bool     `json:"enable_delete_allowlist"`
+	DeleteAllowlistUsernames      []string `json:"delete_allowlist_usernames"`
+	DeleteAllowlistTeams          []string `json:"delete_allowlist_teams"`
+	DeleteAllowlistDeployKeys     bool     `json:"delete_allowlist_deploy_keys"`
+	DeleteAllowlistActionsUser    bool     `json:"delete_allowlist_actions_user"`
 	EnableMergeWhitelist          bool     `json:"enable_merge_whitelist"`
 	MergeWhitelistUsernames       []string `json:"merge_whitelist_usernames"`
 	MergeWhitelistTeams           []string `json:"merge_whitelist_teams"`
@@ -93,7 +99,13 @@ type CreateBranchProtectionOption struct {
 	ForcePushAllowlistUsernames   []string `json:"force_push_allowlist_usernames"`
 	ForcePushAllowlistTeams       []string `json:"force_push_allowlist_teams"`
 	ForcePushAllowlistDeployKeys  bool     `json:"force_push_allowlist_deploy_keys"`
-	ForcePushAllowlistActionsUser bool     `json:"force_push_allowlist_actions_user"`
+	ForcePushAllowlistActionsUser  bool     `json:"force_push_allowlist_actions_user"`
+	EnableDelete                  bool     `json:"enable_delete"`
+	EnableDeleteAllowlist         bool     `json:"enable_delete_allowlist"`
+	DeleteAllowlistUsernames      []string `json:"delete_allowlist_usernames"`
+	DeleteAllowlistTeams          []string `json:"delete_allowlist_teams"`
+	DeleteAllowlistDeployKeys     bool     `json:"delete_allowlist_deploy_keys"`
+	DeleteAllowlistActionsUser    bool     `json:"delete_allowlist_actions_user"`
 	EnableMergeWhitelist          bool     `json:"enable_merge_whitelist"`
 	MergeWhitelistUsernames       []string `json:"merge_whitelist_usernames"`
 	MergeWhitelistTeams           []string `json:"merge_whitelist_teams"`
@@ -129,7 +141,13 @@ type EditBranchProtectionOption struct {
 	ForcePushAllowlistUsernames   []string `json:"force_push_allowlist_usernames"`
 	ForcePushAllowlistTeams       []string `json:"force_push_allowlist_teams"`
 	ForcePushAllowlistDeployKeys  *bool    `json:"force_push_allowlist_deploy_keys"`
-	ForcePushAllowlistActionsUser *bool    `json:"force_push_allowlist_actions_user"`
+	ForcePushAllowlistActionsUser  *bool    `json:"force_push_allowlist_actions_user"`
+	EnableDelete                  *bool    `json:"enable_delete"`
+	EnableDeleteAllowlist         *bool    `json:"enable_delete_allowlist"`
+	DeleteAllowlistUsernames      []string `json:"delete_allowlist_usernames"`
+	DeleteAllowlistTeams          []string `json:"delete_allowlist_teams"`
+	DeleteAllowlistDeployKeys     *bool    `json:"delete_allowlist_deploy_keys"`
+	DeleteAllowlistActionsUser    *bool    `json:"delete_allowlist_actions_user"`
 	EnableMergeWhitelist          *bool    `json:"enable_merge_whitelist"`
 	MergeWhitelistUsernames       []string `json:"merge_whitelist_usernames"`
 	MergeWhitelistTeams           []string `json:"merge_whitelist_teams"`
@@ -2439,6 +2439,17 @@
  "repo.settings.protect_force_push_allowlist_teams": "Allowlisted teams for force pushing:",
  "repo.settings.protect_force_push_allowlist_deploy_keys": "Allowlist deploy keys with push access to force push.",
  "repo.settings.protect_force_push_allowlist_actions_user": "Allowlist actions bot user to force push.",
+  "repo.settings.event_delete": "Branch Deletion",
+  "repo.settings.protect_disable_delete": "Disable Deletion",
+  "repo.settings.protect_disable_delete_desc": "This branch cannot be deleted.",
+  "repo.settings.protect_enable_delete_all": "Enable Deletion",
+  "repo.settings.protect_enable_delete_all_desc": "Anyone with admin access will be allowed to delete this branch.",
+  "repo.settings.protect_enable_delete_allowlist": "Allowlist Restricted Deletion",
+  "repo.settings.protect_enable_delete_allowlist_desc": "Only allowlisted users or teams will be allowed to delete this branch.",
+  "repo.settings.protect_delete_allowlist_users": "Allowlisted users for deletion:",
+  "repo.settings.protect_delete_allowlist_teams": "Allowlisted teams for deletion:",
+  "repo.settings.protect_delete_allowlist_deploy_keys": "Allowlist deploy keys with write access to delete.",
+  "repo.settings.protect_delete_allowlist_actions_user": "Allowlist actions bot user to delete.",
  "repo.settings.protect_merge_whitelist_committers": "Enable Merge Allowlist",
  "repo.settings.protect_merge_whitelist_committers_desc": "Allow only allowlisted users or teams to merge pull requests into this branch.",
  "repo.settings.protect_merge_whitelist_users": "Allowlisted users for merging:",
@@ -693,6 +693,15 @@ func CreateBranchProtection(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 		ctx.APIErrorInternal(err)
 		return
 	}
+	deleteAllowlistUsers, err := user_model.GetUserIDsByNames(ctx, form.DeleteAllowlistUsernames, false)
+	if err != nil {
+		if user_model.IsErrUserNotExist(err) {
+			ctx.APIError(http.StatusUnprocessableEntity, err)
+			return
+		}
+		ctx.APIErrorInternal(err)
+		return
+	}
 	mergeWhitelistUsers, err := user_model.GetUserIDsByNames(ctx, form.MergeWhitelistUsernames, false)
 	if err != nil {
 		if user_model.IsErrUserNotExist(err) {
@@ -711,7 +720,7 @@ func CreateBranchProtection(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 		ctx.APIErrorInternal(err)
 		return
 	}
-	var whitelistTeams, forcePushAllowlistTeams, mergeWhitelistTeams, approvalsWhitelistTeams []int64
+	var whitelistTeams, forcePushAllowlistTeams, deleteAllowlistTeams, mergeWhitelistTeams, approvalsWhitelistTeams []int64
 	if repo.Owner.IsOrganization() {
 		whitelistTeams, err = organization.GetTeamIDsByNames(ctx, repo.OwnerID, form.PushWhitelistTeams, false)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -731,6 +740,15 @@ func CreateBranchProtection(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 			ctx.APIErrorInternal(err)
 			return
 		}
+		deleteAllowlistTeams, err = organization.GetTeamIDsByNames(ctx, repo.OwnerID, form.DeleteAllowlistTeams, false)
+		if err != nil {
+			if organization.IsErrTeamNotExist(err) {
+				ctx.APIError(http.StatusUnprocessableEntity, err)
+				return
+			}
+			ctx.APIErrorInternal(err)
+			return
+		}
 		mergeWhitelistTeams, err = organization.GetTeamIDsByNames(ctx, repo.OwnerID, form.MergeWhitelistTeams, false)
 		if err != nil {
 			if organization.IsErrTeamNotExist(err) {
@@ -763,6 +781,10 @@ func CreateBranchProtection(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 		EnableForcePushAllowlist:      form.EnablePush && form.EnableForcePush && form.EnableForcePushAllowlist,
 		ForcePushAllowlistDeployKeys:  form.EnablePush && form.EnableForcePush && form.EnableForcePushAllowlist && form.ForcePushAllowlistDeployKeys,
 		ForcePushAllowlistActionsUser: form.EnablePush && form.EnableForcePush && form.EnableForcePushAllowlist && form.ForcePushAllowlistActionsUser,
+		CanDelete:                     form.EnableDelete,
+		EnableDeleteAllowlist:         form.EnableDelete && form.EnableDeleteAllowlist,
+		DeleteAllowlistDeployKeys:     form.EnableDelete && form.EnableDeleteAllowlist && form.DeleteAllowlistDeployKeys,
+		DeleteAllowlistActionsUser:    form.EnableDelete && form.EnableDeleteAllowlist && form.DeleteAllowlistActionsUser,
 		EnableMergeWhitelist:          form.EnableMergeWhitelist,
 		MergeWhitelistActionsUser:     form.EnableMergeWhitelist && form.MergeWhitelistActionsUser,
 		EnableStatusCheck:             form.EnableStatusCheck,
@@ -785,6 +807,8 @@ func CreateBranchProtection(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 		TeamIDs:          whitelistTeams,
 		ForcePushUserIDs: forcePushAllowlistUsers,
 		ForcePushTeamIDs: forcePushAllowlistTeams,
+		DeleteUserIDs:    deleteAllowlistUsers,
+		DeleteTeamIDs:    deleteAllowlistTeams,
 		MergeUserIDs:     mergeWhitelistUsers,
 		MergeTeamIDs:     mergeWhitelistTeams,
 		ApprovalsUserIDs: approvalsWhitelistUsers,
@@ -911,6 +935,32 @@ func EditBranchProtection(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 		}
 	}

+	if form.EnableDelete != nil {
+		if !*form.EnableDelete {
+			protectBranch.CanDelete = false
+			protectBranch.EnableDeleteAllowlist = false
+			protectBranch.DeleteAllowlistDeployKeys = false
+			protectBranch.DeleteAllowlistActionsUser = false
+		} else {
+			protectBranch.CanDelete = true
+			if form.EnableDeleteAllowlist != nil {
+				if !*form.EnableDeleteAllowlist {
+					protectBranch.EnableDeleteAllowlist = false
+					protectBranch.DeleteAllowlistDeployKeys = false
+					protectBranch.DeleteAllowlistActionsUser = false
+				} else {
+					protectBranch.EnableDeleteAllowlist = true
+					if form.DeleteAllowlistDeployKeys != nil {
+						protectBranch.DeleteAllowlistDeployKeys = *form.DeleteAllowlistDeployKeys
+					}
+					if form.DeleteAllowlistActionsUser != nil {
+						protectBranch.DeleteAllowlistActionsUser = *form.DeleteAllowlistActionsUser
+					}
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
 	if form.Priority != nil {
 		protectBranch.Priority = *form.Priority
 	}
@@ -977,7 +1027,7 @@ func EditBranchProtection(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 		protectBranch.BlockAdminMergeOverride = *form.BlockAdminMergeOverride
 	}

-	var whitelistUsers, forcePushAllowlistUsers, mergeWhitelistUsers, approvalsWhitelistUsers []int64
+	var whitelistUsers, forcePushAllowlistUsers, deleteAllowlistUsers, mergeWhitelistUsers, approvalsWhitelistUsers []int64
 	if form.PushWhitelistUsernames != nil {
 		whitelistUsers, err = user_model.GetUserIDsByNames(ctx, form.PushWhitelistUsernames, false)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -1004,6 +1054,19 @@ func EditBranchProtection(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 	} else {
 		forcePushAllowlistUsers = protectBranch.ForcePushAllowlistUserIDs
 	}
+	if form.DeleteAllowlistUsernames != nil {
+		deleteAllowlistUsers, err = user_model.GetUserIDsByNames(ctx, form.DeleteAllowlistUsernames, false)
+		if err != nil {
+			if user_model.IsErrUserNotExist(err) {
+				ctx.APIError(http.StatusUnprocessableEntity, err)
+				return
+			}
+			ctx.APIErrorInternal(err)
+			return
+		}
+	} else {
+		deleteAllowlistUsers = protectBranch.DeleteAllowlistUserIDs
+	}
 	if form.MergeWhitelistUsernames != nil {
 		mergeWhitelistUsers, err = user_model.GetUserIDsByNames(ctx, form.MergeWhitelistUsernames, false)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -1031,7 +1094,7 @@ func EditBranchProtection(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 		approvalsWhitelistUsers = protectBranch.ApprovalsWhitelistUserIDs
 	}

-	var whitelistTeams, forcePushAllowlistTeams, mergeWhitelistTeams, approvalsWhitelistTeams []int64
+	var whitelistTeams, forcePushAllowlistTeams, deleteAllowlistTeams, mergeWhitelistTeams, approvalsWhitelistTeams []int64
 	if repo.Owner.IsOrganization() {
 		if form.PushWhitelistTeams != nil {
 			whitelistTeams, err = organization.GetTeamIDsByNames(ctx, repo.OwnerID, form.PushWhitelistTeams, false)
@@ -1059,6 +1122,19 @@ func EditBranchProtection(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 		} else {
 			forcePushAllowlistTeams = protectBranch.ForcePushAllowlistTeamIDs
 		}
+		if form.DeleteAllowlistTeams != nil {
+			deleteAllowlistTeams, err = organization.GetTeamIDsByNames(ctx, repo.OwnerID, form.DeleteAllowlistTeams, false)
+			if err != nil {
+				if organization.IsErrTeamNotExist(err) {
+					ctx.APIError(http.StatusUnprocessableEntity, err)
+					return
+				}
+				ctx.APIErrorInternal(err)
+				return
+			}
+		} else {
+			deleteAllowlistTeams = protectBranch.DeleteAllowlistTeamIDs
+		}
 		if form.MergeWhitelistTeams != nil {
 			mergeWhitelistTeams, err = organization.GetTeamIDsByNames(ctx, repo.OwnerID, form.MergeWhitelistTeams, false)
 			if err != nil {
@@ -1092,6 +1168,8 @@ func EditBranchProtection(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 		TeamIDs:          whitelistTeams,
 		ForcePushUserIDs: forcePushAllowlistUsers,
 		ForcePushTeamIDs: forcePushAllowlistTeams,
+		DeleteUserIDs:    deleteAllowlistUsers,
+		DeleteTeamIDs:    deleteAllowlistTeams,
 		MergeUserIDs:     mergeWhitelistUsers,
 		MergeTeamIDs:     mergeWhitelistTeams,
 		ApprovalsUserIDs: approvalsWhitelistUsers,
@@ -182,12 +182,29 @@ func preReceiveBranch(ctx *preReceiveContext, oldCommitID, newCommitID string, r
 	//
 	// First of all we need to enforce absolutely:
 	//
-	// 1. Detect and prevent deletion of the branch
+	// 1. Detect and prevent deletion of the branch (unless user is in delete allowlist)
 	if newCommitID == objectFormat.EmptyObjectID().String() {
-		log.Warn("Forbidden: Branch: %s in %-v is protected from deletion", branchName, repo)
-		ctx.JSON(http.StatusForbidden, private.Response{
-			UserMsg: fmt.Sprintf("branch %s is protected from deletion", branchName),
-		})
+		canDelete := false
+		if ctx.opts.DeployKeyID != 0 {
+			canDelete = protectBranch.CanDelete && (!protectBranch.EnableDeleteAllowlist || protectBranch.DeleteAllowlistDeployKeys)
+		} else {
+			user, err := user_model.GetUserByID(ctx, ctx.opts.UserID)
+			if err != nil {
+				log.Error("Unable to GetUserByID for delete check in %-v: %v", repo, err)
+				ctx.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, private.Response{
+					Err: fmt.Sprintf("Unable to GetUserByID: %v", err),
+				})
+				return
+			}
+			canDelete = protectBranch.CanUserDelete(ctx, user)
+		}
+		if !canDelete {
+			log.Warn("Forbidden: Branch: %s in %-v is protected from deletion", branchName, repo)
+			ctx.JSON(http.StatusForbidden, private.Response{
+				UserMsg: fmt.Sprintf("branch %s is protected from deletion", branchName),
+			})
+			return
+		}
 		return
 	}

@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ func SettingsProtectedBranch(c *context.Context) {
 	c.Data["Users"] = users
 	c.Data["whitelist_users"] = strings.Join(base.Int64sToStrings(rule.WhitelistUserIDs), ",")
 	c.Data["force_push_allowlist_users"] = strings.Join(base.Int64sToStrings(rule.ForcePushAllowlistUserIDs), ",")
+	c.Data["delete_allowlist_users"] = strings.Join(base.Int64sToStrings(rule.DeleteAllowlistUserIDs), ",")
 	c.Data["merge_whitelist_users"] = strings.Join(base.Int64sToStrings(rule.MergeWhitelistUserIDs), ",")
 	c.Data["approvals_whitelist_users"] = strings.Join(base.Int64sToStrings(rule.ApprovalsWhitelistUserIDs), ",")
 	c.Data["status_check_contexts"] = strings.Join(rule.StatusCheckContexts, "\n")
@@ -97,6 +98,7 @@ func SettingsProtectedBranch(c *context.Context) {
 		c.Data["Teams"] = teams
 		c.Data["whitelist_teams"] = strings.Join(base.Int64sToStrings(rule.WhitelistTeamIDs), ",")
 		c.Data["force_push_allowlist_teams"] = strings.Join(base.Int64sToStrings(rule.ForcePushAllowlistTeamIDs), ",")
+		c.Data["delete_allowlist_teams"] = strings.Join(base.Int64sToStrings(rule.DeleteAllowlistTeamIDs), ",")
 		c.Data["merge_whitelist_teams"] = strings.Join(base.Int64sToStrings(rule.MergeWhitelistTeamIDs), ",")
 		c.Data["approvals_whitelist_teams"] = strings.Join(base.Int64sToStrings(rule.ApprovalsWhitelistTeamIDs), ",")
 	}
@@ -155,7 +157,7 @@ func SettingsProtectedBranchPost(ctx *context.Context) {
 		}
 	}

-	var whitelistUsers, whitelistTeams, forcePushAllowlistUsers, forcePushAllowlistTeams, mergeWhitelistUsers, mergeWhitelistTeams, approvalsWhitelistUsers, approvalsWhitelistTeams []int64
+	var whitelistUsers, whitelistTeams, forcePushAllowlistUsers, forcePushAllowlistTeams, deleteAllowlistUsers, deleteAllowlistTeams, mergeWhitelistUsers, mergeWhitelistTeams, approvalsWhitelistUsers, approvalsWhitelistTeams []int64
 	protectBranch.RuleName = f.RuleName
 	if f.RequiredApprovals < 0 {
 		ctx.Flash.Error(ctx.Tr("repo.settings.protected_branch_required_approvals_min"))
@@ -211,6 +213,30 @@ func SettingsProtectedBranchPost(ctx *context.Context) {
 		protectBranch.ForcePushAllowlistActionsUser = false
 	}

+	switch f.EnableDelete {
+	case "all":
+		protectBranch.CanDelete = true
+		protectBranch.EnableDeleteAllowlist = false
+		protectBranch.DeleteAllowlistDeployKeys = false
+		protectBranch.DeleteAllowlistActionsUser = false
+	case "whitelist":
+		protectBranch.CanDelete = true
+		protectBranch.EnableDeleteAllowlist = true
+		protectBranch.DeleteAllowlistDeployKeys = f.DeleteAllowlistDeployKeys
+		protectBranch.DeleteAllowlistActionsUser = f.DeleteAllowlistActionsUser
+		if strings.TrimSpace(f.DeleteAllowlistUsers) != "" {
+			deleteAllowlistUsers, _ = base.StringsToInt64s(strings.Split(f.DeleteAllowlistUsers, ","))
+		}
+		if strings.TrimSpace(f.DeleteAllowlistTeams) != "" {
+			deleteAllowlistTeams, _ = base.StringsToInt64s(strings.Split(f.DeleteAllowlistTeams, ","))
+		}
+	default:
+		protectBranch.CanDelete = false
+		protectBranch.EnableDeleteAllowlist = false
+		protectBranch.DeleteAllowlistDeployKeys = false
+		protectBranch.DeleteAllowlistActionsUser = false
+	}
+
 	protectBranch.EnableMergeWhitelist = f.EnableMergeWhitelist
 	protectBranch.MergeWhitelistActionsUser = f.EnableMergeWhitelist && f.MergeWhitelistActionsUser
 	if f.EnableMergeWhitelist {
@@ -274,6 +300,8 @@ func SettingsProtectedBranchPost(ctx *context.Context) {
 		TeamIDs:          whitelistTeams,
 		ForcePushUserIDs: forcePushAllowlistUsers,
 		ForcePushTeamIDs: forcePushAllowlistTeams,
+		DeleteUserIDs:    deleteAllowlistUsers,
+		DeleteTeamIDs:    deleteAllowlistTeams,
 		MergeUserIDs:     mergeWhitelistUsers,
 		MergeTeamIDs:     mergeWhitelistTeams,
 		ApprovalsUserIDs: approvalsWhitelistUsers,
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@ func ToBranchProtection(ctx context.Context, bp *git_model.ProtectedBranch, repo

 	pushWhitelistUsernames := getWhitelistEntities(readers, bp.WhitelistUserIDs)
 	forcePushAllowlistUsernames := getWhitelistEntities(readers, bp.ForcePushAllowlistUserIDs)
+	deleteAllowlistUsernames := getWhitelistEntities(readers, bp.DeleteAllowlistUserIDs)
 	mergeWhitelistUsernames := getWhitelistEntities(readers, bp.MergeWhitelistUserIDs)
 	approvalsWhitelistUsernames := getWhitelistEntities(readers, bp.ApprovalsWhitelistUserIDs)

@@ -156,6 +157,7 @@ func ToBranchProtection(ctx context.Context, bp *git_model.ProtectedBranch, repo

 	pushWhitelistTeams := getWhitelistEntities(teamReaders, bp.WhitelistTeamIDs)
 	forcePushAllowlistTeams := getWhitelistEntities(teamReaders, bp.ForcePushAllowlistTeamIDs)
+	deleteAllowlistTeams := getWhitelistEntities(teamReaders, bp.DeleteAllowlistTeamIDs)
 	mergeWhitelistTeams := getWhitelistEntities(teamReaders, bp.MergeWhitelistTeamIDs)
 	approvalsWhitelistTeams := getWhitelistEntities(teamReaders, bp.ApprovalsWhitelistTeamIDs)

@@ -180,6 +182,12 @@ func ToBranchProtection(ctx context.Context, bp *git_model.ProtectedBranch, repo
 		ForcePushAllowlistTeams:       forcePushAllowlistTeams,
 		ForcePushAllowlistDeployKeys:  bp.ForcePushAllowlistDeployKeys,
 		ForcePushAllowlistActionsUser: bp.ForcePushAllowlistActionsUser,
+		EnableDelete:                  bp.CanDelete,
+		EnableDeleteAllowlist:         bp.EnableDeleteAllowlist,
+		DeleteAllowlistUsernames:      deleteAllowlistUsernames,
+		DeleteAllowlistTeams:          deleteAllowlistTeams,
+		DeleteAllowlistDeployKeys:     bp.DeleteAllowlistDeployKeys,
+		DeleteAllowlistActionsUser:    bp.DeleteAllowlistActionsUser,
 		EnableMergeWhitelist:          bp.EnableMergeWhitelist,
 		MergeWhitelistUsernames:       mergeWhitelistUsernames,
 		MergeWhitelistTeams:           mergeWhitelistTeams,
@@ -192,6 +192,11 @@ type ProtectBranchForm struct {
 	ForcePushAllowlistTeams       string
 	ForcePushAllowlistDeployKeys  bool
 	ForcePushAllowlistActionsUser bool
+	EnableDelete                  string
+	DeleteAllowlistUsers          string
+	DeleteAllowlistTeams          string
+	DeleteAllowlistDeployKeys     bool
+	DeleteAllowlistActionsUser    bool
 	EnableMergeWhitelist          bool
 	MergeWhitelistUsers           string
 	MergeWhitelistTeams           string
@@ -563,12 +563,15 @@ func CanDeleteBranch(ctx context.Context, repo *repo_model.Repository, branchNam
 		return util.NewPermissionDeniedErrorf("permission denied to access repo %d unit %s", repo.ID, unit.TypeCode.LogString())
 	}

-	isProtected, err := git_model.IsBranchProtected(ctx, repo.ID, branchName)
+	protectBranch, err := git_model.GetFirstMatchProtectedBranchRule(ctx, repo.ID, branchName)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if isProtected {
-		return git_model.ErrBranchIsProtected
+	if protectBranch != nil {
+		protectBranch.Repo = repo
+		if !protectBranch.CanUserDelete(ctx, doer) {
+			return git_model.ErrBranchIsProtected
+		}
 	}
 	return nil
 }
@@ -172,6 +172,75 @@
 						</div>
 					</div>
 				</div>
+				<h5 class="ui dividing header">{{ctx.Locale.Tr "repo.settings.event_delete"}}</h5>
+				<div class="field">
+					<div class="ui radio checkbox">
+						<input type="radio" name="enable_delete" value="none" class="toggle-target-disabled" data-target="#delete_allowlist_box" {{if not .Rule.CanDelete}}checked{{end}}>
+						<label>{{ctx.Locale.Tr "repo.settings.protect_disable_delete"}}</label>
+						<p class="help">{{ctx.Locale.Tr "repo.settings.protect_disable_delete_desc"}}</p>
+					</div>
+				</div>
+				<div class="field">
+					<div class="ui radio checkbox">
+						<input type="radio" name="enable_delete" value="all" class="toggle-target-disabled" data-target="#delete_allowlist_box" {{if and (.Rule.CanDelete) (not .Rule.EnableDeleteAllowlist)}}checked{{end}}>
+						<label>{{ctx.Locale.Tr "repo.settings.protect_enable_delete_all"}}</label>
+						<p class="help">{{ctx.Locale.Tr "repo.settings.protect_enable_delete_all_desc"}}</p>
+					</div>
+				</div>
+				<div class="grouped fields">
+					<div class="field">
+						<div class="ui radio checkbox">
+							<input type="radio" name="enable_delete" value="whitelist" class="toggle-target-enabled" data-target="#delete_allowlist_box" {{if and (.Rule.CanDelete) (.Rule.EnableDeleteAllowlist)}}checked{{end}}>
+							<label>{{ctx.Locale.Tr "repo.settings.protect_enable_delete_allowlist"}}</label>
+							<p class="help">{{ctx.Locale.Tr "repo.settings.protect_enable_delete_allowlist_desc"}}</p>
+						</div>
+					</div>
+					<div id="delete_allowlist_box" class="grouped fields {{if not .Rule.EnableDeleteAllowlist}}disabled{{end}}">
+						<div class="checkbox-sub-item field">
+							<label>{{ctx.Locale.Tr "repo.settings.protect_delete_allowlist_users"}}</label>
+							<div class="ui multiple search selection dropdown">
+								<input type="hidden" name="delete_allowlist_users" value="{{.delete_allowlist_users}}">
+								<div class="default text">{{ctx.Locale.Tr "search.user_kind"}}</div>
+								<div class="menu">
+									{{range .Users}}
+										<div class="item" data-value="{{.ID}}">
+											{{ctx.AvatarUtils.Avatar . 28 "mini"}}{{template "repo/search_name" .}}
+										</div>
+									{{end}}
+								</div>
+							</div>
+						</div>
+						{{if .Owner.IsOrganization}}
+							<div class="checkbox-sub-item field">
+								<label>{{ctx.Locale.Tr "repo.settings.protect_delete_allowlist_teams"}}</label>
+								<div class="ui multiple search selection dropdown">
+									<input type="hidden" name="delete_allowlist_teams" value="{{.delete_allowlist_teams}}">
+									<div class="default text">{{ctx.Locale.Tr "search.team_kind"}}</div>
+									<div class="menu">
+										{{range .Teams}}
+											<div class="item" data-value="{{.ID}}">
+												{{svg "octicon-people"}}
+												{{.Name}}
+											</div>
+										{{end}}
+									</div>
+								</div>
+							</div>
+						{{end}}
+						<div class="checkbox-sub-item field">
+							<div class="ui checkbox">
+								<input type="checkbox" name="delete_allowlist_deploy_keys" {{if .Rule.DeleteAllowlistDeployKeys}}checked{{end}}>
+								<label>{{ctx.Locale.Tr "repo.settings.protect_delete_allowlist_deploy_keys"}}</label>
+							</div>
+						</div>
+						<div class="checkbox-sub-item field">
+							<div class="ui checkbox">
+								<input type="checkbox" name="delete_allowlist_actions_user" {{if .Rule.DeleteAllowlistActionsUser}}checked{{end}}>
+								<label>{{ctx.Locale.Tr "repo.settings.protect_delete_allowlist_actions_user"}}</label>
+							</div>
+						</div>
+					</div>
+				</div>
 				<h5 class="ui dividing header">{{ctx.Locale.Tr "repo.settings.event_pull_request_approvals"}}</h5>
 				<div class="field">
 					<label>{{ctx.Locale.Tr "repo.settings.protect_required_approvals"}}</label>