diff --git a/src/cmd/server/main.go b/src/cmd/server/main.go
index 725f3d9..d9e37cd 100644
--- a/src/cmd/server/main.go
+++ b/src/cmd/server/main.go
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import (
 	"authelia-api/internal/bootstrap"
 	"authelia-api/internal/config"
 	"authelia-api/internal/database"
+	"authelia-api/internal/policies"
 	"authelia-api/internal/smtp"
 	"authelia-api/internal/sync"
 )
@@ -170,10 +171,12 @@ func (a *Application) Start() error {
 
 	// Create API handlers
 	usersHandler := api.NewUsersHandler(a.db, a.config.AutheliaBinaryPath, a.syncEngine, a.smtpClient)
+	policiesHandler := policies.NewHandler(a.db)
 
 	// Protected routes
 	protectedRouter := http.NewServeMux()
 	usersHandler.RegisterRoutes(protectedRouter)
+	policiesHandler.RegisterRoutes(protectedRouter)
 
 	// Wrap protected routes with auth middleware
 	router.Handle("/api/", authMiddleware.RequireAuth(protectedRouter))
diff --git a/src/internal/database/database.go b/src/internal/database/database.go
index 9117df0..fc6e60a 100644
--- a/src/internal/database/database.go
+++ b/src/internal/database/database.go
@@ -187,6 +187,36 @@ BEGIN
     INSERT INTO sync_logs (operation, username, success) VALUES ('DELETE', OLD.username, TRUE);
 END;
 
+COMMIT;`,
+		},
+		{
+			version: 2,
+			name:    "policies",
+			sql: `BEGIN TRANSACTION;
+
+-- Access control policies table
+CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS policies (
+    id          TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
+    name        TEXT NOT NULL,
+    domain      TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '[]',
+    resources   TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '[]',
+    methods     TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '[]',
+    subjects    TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '[]',
+    policy      TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT 'deny'
+        CHECK (policy IN ('bypass', 'one_factor', 'two_factor', 'deny')),
+    created_at  DATETIME DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
+    updated_at  DATETIME DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
+);
+
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_policies_name ON policies(name);
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_policies_policy ON policies(policy);
+
+CREATE TRIGGER IF NOT EXISTS update_policies_timestamp
+AFTER UPDATE ON policies
+BEGIN
+    UPDATE policies SET updated_at = CURRENT_TIMESTAMP WHERE id = NEW.id;
+END;
+
 COMMIT;`,
 		},
 	}
diff --git a/src/internal/policies/engine.go b/src/internal/policies/engine.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ca29e74
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/internal/policies/engine.go
@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
+package policies
+
+import (
+	"math/rand"
+	"regexp"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// generateID creates a short unique identifier like "pol_93f8s2".
+func generateID() string {
+	const charset = "abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789"
+	rng := rand.New(rand.NewSource(time.Now().UnixNano()))
+	b := make([]byte, 6)
+	for i := range b {
+		b[i] = charset[rng.Intn(len(charset))]
+	}
+	return "pol_" + string(b)
+}
+
+// subjectPatterns extracts the subject patterns relevant to a user.
+// Returns patterns like "user:<username>" and "group:<groupname>" for each group.
+func subjectPatterns(username string, groups []string) []string {
+	patterns := []string{"user:" + username}
+	for _, g := range groups {
+		patterns = append(patterns, "group:"+g)
+	}
+	return patterns
+}
+
+// matchSubject checks if a subject inner-array (e.g. ["group:admins", "user:admin"])
+// matches any of the given subject patterns.
+func matchSubject(subjectGroup []string, patterns []string) (string, bool) {
+	for _, sg := range subjectGroup {
+		for _, pat := range patterns {
+			if sg == pat {
+				// Return a human-readable explanation
+				if strings.HasPrefix(sg, "user:") {
+					return "Matched via direct username: " + strings.TrimPrefix(sg, "user:"), true
+				}
+				return "Matched via group membership: " + strings.TrimPrefix(sg, "group:"), true
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return "", false
+}
+
+// matchDomain checks if a domain matches a pattern (supports wildcard '*').
+func matchDomain(domain, pattern string) bool {
+	// Convert glob-style pattern to regex
+	// e.g. "*.example.com" -> "^.*\\.example\\.com$"
+	reStr := "^" + regexp.QuoteMeta(pattern) + "$"
+	reStr = strings.ReplaceAll(reStr, `\*`, `.*`)
+	matched, _ := regexp.MatchString(reStr, domain)
+	return matched
+}
+
+// matchResource checks if a path matches a resource pattern (regex).
+func matchResource(path, pattern string) bool {
+	matched, _ := regexp.MatchString(pattern, path)
+	return matched
+}
+
+// matchMethod checks if a method is in the policy's allowed methods list.
+// An empty methods list means all methods match.
+func matchMethod(method string, methods []string) bool {
+	if len(methods) == 0 {
+		return true
+	}
+	for _, m := range methods {
+		if strings.EqualFold(m, method) {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+// Evaluate checks whether a policy matches a given request context.
+// Returns true if domain, resource, method, and subjects all match.
+func (p *Policy) Evaluate(domain, path, method string, subjectPatterns []string) (string, bool) {
+	// Domain match
+	domainMatch := false
+	for _, d := range p.Domain {
+		if matchDomain(domain, d) {
+			domainMatch = true
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	if !domainMatch {
+		return "", false
+	}
+
+	// Resource match (if any resources defined)
+	if len(p.Resources) > 0 {
+		resourceMatch := false
+		for _, r := range p.Resources {
+			if matchResource(path, r) {
+				resourceMatch = true
+				break
+			}
+		}
+		if !resourceMatch {
+			return "", false
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Method match (if any methods defined)
+	if !matchMethod(method, p.Methods) {
+		return "", false
+	}
+
+	// Subject match (if any subjects defined)
+	if len(p.Subjects) > 0 {
+		// Each element in Subjects is a JSON array of alternatives,
+		// e.g. ["group:admins", "user:admin"]
+		subjectMatch := false
+		for _, s := range p.Subjects {
+			// For now subject strings are stored as JSON arrays
+			// We parse the pattern from the stored subjects field
+			for _, pat := range subjectPatterns {
+				if s == pat {
+					subjectMatch = true
+					break
+				}
+			}
+			if subjectMatch {
+				break
+			}
+		}
+		if !subjectMatch {
+			return "", false
+		}
+	}
+
+	return p.Policy, true
+}
diff --git a/src/internal/policies/handler.go b/src/internal/policies/handler.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ca9eea3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/internal/policies/handler.go
@@ -0,0 +1,335 @@
+package policies
+
+import (
+	"database/sql"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"log"
+	"net/http"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// Handler serves HTTP endpoints for policy management.
+type Handler struct {
+	store *Store
+	db    *sql.DB
+}
+
+// NewHandler creates a new policy HTTP handler.
+func NewHandler(db *sql.DB) *Handler {
+	return &Handler{
+		store: NewStore(db),
+		db:    db,
+	}
+}
+
+// RegisterRoutes registers all policy routes on the given mux.
+func (h *Handler) RegisterRoutes(mux *http.ServeMux) {
+	mux.HandleFunc("GET /api/policies", h.handleList)
+	mux.HandleFunc("POST /api/policies", h.handleCreate)
+	mux.HandleFunc("GET /api/policies/{policy_id}", h.handleGet)
+	mux.HandleFunc("PUT /api/policies/{policy_id}", h.handleUpdate)
+	mux.HandleFunc("DELETE /api/policies/{policy_id}", h.handleDelete)
+	mux.HandleFunc("POST /api/policies/verify", h.handleVerify)
+	mux.HandleFunc("GET /api/users/{username}/policies", h.handleUserPolicies)
+}
+
+// handleList returns all policies.
+func (h *Handler) handleList(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	policies, err := h.store.List()
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Printf("[ERROR] policy list: %v", err)
+		writePolicyError(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, "Failed to list policies")
+		return
+	}
+	if policies == nil {
+		policies = []Policy{}
+	}
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, policies)
+}
+
+// handleCreate creates a new policy.
+func (h *Handler) handleCreate(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	var input PolicyInput
+	if err := json.NewDecoder(r.Body).Decode(&input); err != nil {
+		writePolicyError(w, http.StatusBadRequest, fmt.Sprintf("Invalid JSON: %v", err))
+		return
+	}
+
+	if err := validateInput(input); err != nil {
+		writePolicyError(w, http.StatusBadRequest, err.Error())
+		return
+	}
+
+	policy, err := h.store.Create(input)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Printf("[ERROR] policy create: %v", err)
+		writePolicyError(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, "Failed to create policy")
+		return
+	}
+
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusCreated, policy)
+}
+
+// handleGet returns a single policy by ID.
+func (h *Handler) handleGet(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	id := r.PathValue("policy_id")
+	if id == "" {
+		writePolicyError(w, http.StatusBadRequest, "policy_id is required")
+		return
+	}
+
+	policy, err := h.store.GetByID(id)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Printf("[ERROR] policy get: %v", err)
+		writePolicyError(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, "Failed to retrieve policy")
+		return
+	}
+	if policy == nil {
+		writePolicyError(w, http.StatusNotFound, "Policy not found")
+		return
+	}
+
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, policy)
+}
+
+// handleUpdate replaces a policy by ID.
+func (h *Handler) handleUpdate(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	id := r.PathValue("policy_id")
+	if id == "" {
+		writePolicyError(w, http.StatusBadRequest, "policy_id is required")
+		return
+	}
+
+	var input PolicyInput
+	if err := json.NewDecoder(r.Body).Decode(&input); err != nil {
+		writePolicyError(w, http.StatusBadRequest, fmt.Sprintf("Invalid JSON: %v", err))
+		return
+	}
+
+	if err := validateInput(input); err != nil {
+		writePolicyError(w, http.StatusBadRequest, err.Error())
+		return
+	}
+
+	policy, err := h.store.Update(id, input)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Printf("[ERROR] policy update: %v", err)
+		writePolicyError(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, "Failed to update policy")
+		return
+	}
+	if policy == nil {
+		writePolicyError(w, http.StatusNotFound, "Policy not found")
+		return
+	}
+
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, policy)
+}
+
+// handleDelete deletes a policy by ID.
+func (h *Handler) handleDelete(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	id := r.PathValue("policy_id")
+	if id == "" {
+		writePolicyError(w, http.StatusBadRequest, "policy_id is required")
+		return
+	}
+
+	deleted, err := h.store.Delete(id)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Printf("[ERROR] policy delete: %v", err)
+		writePolicyError(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, "Failed to delete policy")
+		return
+	}
+	if !deleted {
+		writePolicyError(w, http.StatusNotFound, "Policy not found")
+		return
+	}
+
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, map[string]interface{}{
+		"success": true,
+		"message": fmt.Sprintf("Policy %s deleted", id),
+	})
+}
+
+// handleVerify performs a dry-run policy evaluation.
+func (h *Handler) handleVerify(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	var req VerifyRequest
+	if err := json.NewDecoder(r.Body).Decode(&req); err != nil {
+		writePolicyError(w, http.StatusBadRequest, fmt.Sprintf("Invalid JSON: %v", err))
+		return
+	}
+
+	if req.Domain == "" || req.Path == "" {
+		writePolicyError(w, http.StatusBadRequest, "domain and path are required")
+		return
+	}
+
+	if req.Method == "" {
+		req.Method = "GET"
+	}
+
+	// Build subject patterns
+	patterns := subjectPatterns(req.Username, req.Groups)
+
+	// Get all policies
+	allPolicies, err := h.store.List()
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Printf("[ERROR] policy verify list: %v", err)
+		writePolicyError(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, "Failed to load policies")
+		return
+	}
+
+	// Evaluate each policy
+	for _, p := range allPolicies {
+		action, matched := p.Evaluate(req.Domain, req.Path, req.Method, patterns)
+		if matched {
+			writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, VerifyResponse{
+				Matched:        true,
+				PolicyID:       p.ID,
+				PolicyName:     p.Name,
+				ActionRequired: action,
+			})
+			return
+		}
+	}
+
+	// No match
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, VerifyResponse{Matched: false})
+}
+
+// handleUserPolicies returns policies that match a user (by username or group).
+func (h *Handler) handleUserPolicies(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	username := r.PathValue("username")
+	if username == "" {
+		writePolicyError(w, http.StatusBadRequest, "Username is required")
+		return
+	}
+
+	// Query the user's groups from the users table
+	groups, err := h.getUserGroups(username)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Printf("[ERROR] user policies - get groups: %v", err)
+		writePolicyError(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, "Failed to retrieve user")
+		return
+	}
+	if groups == nil {
+		writePolicyError(w, http.StatusNotFound, "User not found")
+		return
+	}
+
+	patterns := subjectPatterns(username, groups)
+
+	allPolicies, err := h.store.List()
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Printf("[ERROR] user policies list: %v", err)
+		writePolicyError(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, "Failed to load policies")
+		return
+	}
+
+	var matches []UserPolicyMatch
+	for _, p := range allPolicies {
+		matchReason, matched := h.policyMatchesUser(&p, patterns)
+		if matched {
+			matches = append(matches, UserPolicyMatch{
+				PolicyID:    p.ID,
+				Name:        p.Name,
+				MatchReason: matchReason,
+				Policy:      p.Policy,
+				Domain:      p.Domain,
+				Resources:   p.Resources,
+			})
+		}
+	}
+
+	if matches == nil {
+		matches = []UserPolicyMatch{}
+	}
+
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, matches)
+}
+
+// policyMatchesUser checks if a policy's subjects match any of the user's patterns.
+func (h *Handler) policyMatchesUser(p *Policy, patterns []string) (string, bool) {
+	if len(p.Subjects) == 0 {
+		// No subject restrictions — policy applies to everyone
+		return "Policy has no subject restrictions (applies to all users)", true
+	}
+
+	for _, sub := range p.Subjects {
+		for _, pat := range patterns {
+			if sub == pat {
+				if strings.HasPrefix(sub, "user:") {
+					return "Matched via direct username: " + strings.TrimPrefix(sub, "user:"), true
+				}
+				return "Matched via group membership: " + strings.TrimPrefix(sub, "group:"), true
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	return "", false
+}
+
+// getUserGroups retrieves a user's groups from the database.
+// Returns nil, nil if the user doesn't exist.
+func (h *Handler) getUserGroups(username string) ([]string, error) {
+	var groupsJSON string
+	err := h.db.QueryRow("SELECT groups FROM users WHERE username = ?", username).Scan(&groupsJSON)
+	if err == sql.ErrNoRows {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	// Parse groups JSON
+	groupsJSON = strings.TrimSpace(groupsJSON)
+	groupsJSON = strings.Trim(groupsJSON, "[]")
+	if groupsJSON == "" {
+		return []string{}, nil
+	}
+
+	parts := strings.Split(groupsJSON, ",")
+	groups := make([]string, 0, len(parts))
+	for _, p := range parts {
+		g := strings.Trim(p, `" `)
+		if g != "" {
+			groups = append(groups, g)
+		}
+	}
+	return groups, nil
+}
+
+// --- helpers ---
+
+func validateInput(input PolicyInput) error {
+	if input.Name == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("name is required")
+	}
+	if len(input.Domain) == 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("domain is required (at least one domain pattern)")
+	}
+	switch input.Policy {
+	case "bypass", "one_factor", "two_factor", "deny":
+		// valid
+	default:
+		return fmt.Errorf("policy must be one of: bypass, one_factor, two_factor, deny")
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func writePolicyError(w http.ResponseWriter, status int, msg string) {
+	w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+	w.WriteHeader(status)
+	json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(map[string]interface{}{
+		"error": map[string]interface{}{
+			"code":    status,
+			"message": msg,
+		},
+	})
+}
+
+func writeJSON(w http.ResponseWriter, status int, v interface{}) {
+	w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+	w.WriteHeader(status)
+	json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(v)
+}
diff --git a/src/internal/policies/models.go b/src/internal/policies/models.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..20e1854
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/internal/policies/models.go
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+package policies
+
+// Policy represents an access control policy rule as stored in the database.
+type Policy struct {
+	ID        string   `json:"id"`
+	Name      string   `json:"name"`
+	Domain    []string `json:"domain"`
+	Resources []string `json:"resources,omitempty"`
+	Methods   []string `json:"methods,omitempty"`
+	Subjects  []string `json:"subjects,omitempty"`
+	Policy    string   `json:"policy"`
+	CreatedAt string   `json:"created_at,omitempty"`
+	UpdatedAt string   `json:"updated_at,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// PolicyInput is the request body for creating or updating a policy.
+type PolicyInput struct {
+	Name      string   `json:"name"`
+	Domain    []string `json:"domain"`
+	Resources []string `json:"resources,omitempty"`
+	Methods   []string `json:"methods,omitempty"`
+	Subjects  []string `json:"subjects,omitempty"`
+	Policy    string   `json:"policy"`
+}
+
+// UserPolicyMatch describes a policy that matched a user via direct or group membership.
+type UserPolicyMatch struct {
+	PolicyID    string   `json:"policy_id"`
+	Name        string   `json:"name"`
+	MatchReason string   `json:"match_reason"`
+	Policy      string   `json:"policy"`
+	Domain      []string `json:"domain,omitempty"`
+	Resources   []string `json:"resources,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// VerifyRequest is the request body for the policy verification endpoint.
+type VerifyRequest struct {
+	Domain   string   `json:"domain"`
+	Path     string   `json:"path"`
+	Method   string   `json:"method,omitempty"`
+	Username string   `json:"username,omitempty"`
+	Groups   []string `json:"groups,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// VerifyResponse is the response for the policy verification endpoint.
+type VerifyResponse struct {
+	Matched       bool   `json:"matched"`
+	PolicyID      string `json:"policy_id,omitempty"`
+	PolicyName    string `json:"policy_name,omitempty"`
+	ActionRequired string `json:"action_required,omitempty"`
+}
diff --git a/src/internal/policies/store.go b/src/internal/policies/store.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e991948
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/internal/policies/store.go
@@ -0,0 +1,209 @@
+package policies
+
+import (
+	"database/sql"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// Store handles database operations for policies.
+type Store struct {
+	db *sql.DB
+}
+
+// NewStore creates a new policy store.
+func NewStore(db *sql.DB) *Store {
+	return &Store{db: db}
+}
+
+// List returns all policies ordered by name.
+func (s *Store) List() ([]Policy, error) {
+	rows, err := s.db.Query(`
+		SELECT id, name, domain, resources, methods, subjects, policy, created_at, updated_at
+		FROM policies
+		ORDER BY name
+	`)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to query policies: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer rows.Close()
+
+	var policies []Policy
+	for rows.Next() {
+		p, err := scanPolicy(rows)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		policies = append(policies, p)
+	}
+	return policies, rows.Err()
+}
+
+// GetByID returns a single policy by its ID.
+func (s *Store) GetByID(id string) (*Policy, error) {
+	row := s.db.QueryRow(`
+		SELECT id, name, domain, resources, methods, subjects, policy, created_at, updated_at
+		FROM policies WHERE id = ?
+	`, id)
+
+	p, err := scanPolicyRow(row)
+	if err == sql.ErrNoRows {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to scan policy: %w", err)
+	}
+	return &p, nil
+}
+
+// Create inserts a new policy and returns it with the generated ID.
+func (s *Store) Create(input PolicyInput) (*Policy, error) {
+	id := generateID()
+	domainJSON := mustMarshal(input.Domain)
+	resourcesJSON := mustMarshal(input.Resources)
+	methodsJSON := mustMarshal(input.Methods)
+	subjectsJSON := mustMarshal(input.Subjects)
+
+	_, err := s.db.Exec(`
+		INSERT INTO policies (id, name, domain, resources, methods, subjects, policy)
+		VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)
+	`, id, input.Name, domainJSON, resourcesJSON, methodsJSON, subjectsJSON, input.Policy)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to create policy: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return s.GetByID(id)
+}
+
+// Update replaces an existing policy by ID.
+func (s *Store) Update(id string, input PolicyInput) (*Policy, error) {
+	domainJSON := mustMarshal(input.Domain)
+	resourcesJSON := mustMarshal(input.Resources)
+	methodsJSON := mustMarshal(input.Methods)
+	subjectsJSON := mustMarshal(input.Subjects)
+
+	res, err := s.db.Exec(`
+		UPDATE policies
+		SET name = ?, domain = ?, resources = ?, methods = ?, subjects = ?, policy = ?
+		WHERE id = ?
+	`, input.Name, domainJSON, resourcesJSON, methodsJSON, subjectsJSON, input.Policy, id)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to update policy: %w", err)
+	}
+	n, _ := res.RowsAffected()
+	if n == 0 {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	return s.GetByID(id)
+}
+
+// Delete removes a policy by ID. Returns true if a row was deleted.
+func (s *Store) Delete(id string) (bool, error) {
+	res, err := s.db.Exec("DELETE FROM policies WHERE id = ?", id)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, fmt.Errorf("failed to delete policy: %w", err)
+	}
+	n, _ := res.RowsAffected()
+	return n > 0, nil
+}
+
+// ListBySubjects returns policies whose subjects match any of the given subject patterns.
+// A subject pattern is "user:<username>" or "group:<groupname>".
+func (s *Store) ListBySubjects(subjects []string) ([]Policy, error) {
+	if len(subjects) == 0 {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+
+	// Build a query that searches the JSON subjects column for each subject.
+	// The subjects column stores JSON like: [["group:admins","user:admin"],["user:test.user1"]]
+	// We search if any element of the top-level array contains one of our subject patterns.
+	conditions := make([]string, len(subjects))
+	args := make([]interface{}, len(subjects))
+	for i, sub := range subjects {
+		conditions[i] = "subjects LIKE ?"
+		args[i] = "%" + sub + "%"
+	}
+
+	query := `
+		SELECT id, name, domain, resources, methods, subjects, policy, created_at, updated_at
+		FROM policies
+		WHERE ` + strings.Join(conditions, " OR ") + `
+		ORDER BY name
+	`
+
+	rows, err := s.db.Query(query, args...)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to query policies by subjects: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer rows.Close()
+
+	var policies []Policy
+	for rows.Next() {
+		p, err := scanPolicy(rows)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		policies = append(policies, p)
+	}
+	return policies, rows.Err()
+}
+
+// --- helpers ---
+
+type scannable interface {
+	Scan(dest ...interface{}) error
+}
+
+func scanPolicy(row scannable) (Policy, error) {
+	var p Policy
+	var domainJSON, resourcesJSON, methodsJSON, subjectsJSON string
+	var createdAt, updatedAt sql.NullString
+
+	err := row.Scan(
+		&p.ID, &p.Name, &domainJSON, &resourcesJSON,
+		&methodsJSON, &subjectsJSON, &p.Policy,
+		&createdAt, &updatedAt,
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		return p, err
+	}
+
+	p.Domain = mustUnmarshalSlice(domainJSON)
+	p.Resources = mustUnmarshalSlice(resourcesJSON)
+	p.Methods = mustUnmarshalSlice(methodsJSON)
+	p.Subjects = mustUnmarshalSlice(subjectsJSON)
+	p.CreatedAt = nullStringVal(createdAt)
+	p.UpdatedAt = nullStringVal(updatedAt)
+	return p, nil
+}
+
+func scanPolicyRow(row *sql.Row) (Policy, error) {
+	return scanPolicy(row)
+}
+
+func mustMarshal(v interface{}) string {
+	b, err := json.Marshal(v)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "[]"
+	}
+	return string(b)
+}
+
+func mustUnmarshalSlice(s string) []string {
+	if s == "" || s == "[]" {
+		return nil
+	}
+	var out []string
+	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(s), &out); err != nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+func nullStringVal(ns sql.NullString) string {
+	if ns.Valid {
+		return ns.String
+	}
+	return ""
+}
diff --git a/src/migrations/002_policies.sql b/src/migrations/002_policies.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c7cd4d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/migrations/002_policies.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+-- Authelia API Schema: Policies
+-- Version: 2.0
+-- Description: Access control policies table
+
+BEGIN TRANSACTION;
+
+-- Access control policies table
+CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS policies (
+    id          TEXT PRIMARY KEY,       -- e.g. "pol_93f8s2"
+    name        TEXT NOT NULL,
+    domain      TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '[]',  -- JSON array of domain patterns
+    resources   TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '[]',  -- JSON array of resource regexes
+    methods     TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '[]',  -- JSON array of HTTP methods
+    subjects    TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '[]',  -- JSON array of subject arrays
+    policy      TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT 'deny' -- bypass, one_factor, two_factor, deny
+        CHECK (policy IN ('bypass', 'one_factor', 'two_factor', 'deny')),
+    created_at  DATETIME DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
+    updated_at  DATETIME DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
+);
+
+-- Index for policy lookups
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_policies_name ON policies(name);
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_policies_policy ON policies(policy);
+
+-- Trigger for updated_at
+CREATE TRIGGER IF NOT EXISTS update_policies_timestamp
+AFTER UPDATE ON policies
+BEGIN
+    UPDATE policies SET updated_at = CURRENT_TIMESTAMP WHERE id = NEW.id;
+END;
+
+COMMIT;