diff --git a/HACKING.rst b/HACKING.rst
index d4d792e..3c726b3 100644
--- a/HACKING.rst
+++ b/HACKING.rst
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ General
 - [H201] Do not write ``except:``, use ``except Exception:`` at the very least
 - [H101] Include your name with TODOs as in ``# TODO(yourname)``
 - [H105] Don't use author tags.
+- [H106] Don't put vim configuration in source files (off by default)
 - Do not shadow a built-in or reserved word. Example::
 
     def list():
diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index 71dbbdb..ae54b12 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ But, as always, remember that these are Guidelines. Treat them as
 such. There are always times for exceptions. All new rules should
 support noqa.
 
+If a check needs to be staged in, or it does not apply to every project or its
+branch, it can be added as off by default.
 
 Requirements
 ------------
diff --git a/hacking/checks/vim_check.py b/hacking/checks/vim_check.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..17c501a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hacking/checks/vim_check.py
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+# not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
+# a copy of the License at
+#
+#      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+# WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+# License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+# under the License.
+
+import re
+
+from hacking import core
+
+
+vim_header_re = re.compile(r"^#\s+vim?:.+")
+
+
+@core.flake8ext
+@core.off_by_default
+def no_vim_headers(physical_line, line_number, lines):
+    r"""Check for vim editor configuration in source files.
+
+    By default vim modelines can only appear in the first or
+    last 5 lines of a source file.
+
+    Examples:
+    H106: # vim: set tabstop=4 shiftwidth=4\n#\n#\n#\n#\n#
+    H106: # Lic\n# vim: set tabstop=4 shiftwidth=4\n#\n#\n#\n#\n#
+    H106: # Lic\n#\n#\n#\n#\n#\n#\n#\n#\n# vim: set tabstop=4 shiftwidth=4
+    Okay: # Lic\n#\n#\n#\n#\n#\n#\n#
+    Okay: # viminal hill is located in Rome
+    Okay: # vim, ze nemluvis cesky
+    """
+    if ((line_number <= 5 or line_number > len(lines) - 5) and
+         vim_header_re.match(physical_line)):
+        return 0, "H106: Don't put vim configuration in source files"
diff --git a/hacking/core.py b/hacking/core.py
index e43db20..338f81f 100644
--- a/hacking/core.py
+++ b/hacking/core.py
@@ -40,6 +40,21 @@ def flake8ext(f):
     f.name = __name__
     f.version = '0.0.1'
     f.skip_on_py3 = False
+    if not hasattr(f, 'off_by_default'):
+        f.off_by_default = False
+    return f
+
+
+def off_by_default(f):
+    """Decorator to turn check off by default.
+
+    To enable the check use the flake8 select setting in
+    tox.ini.
+
+    flake8 documentation:
+    http://flake8.readthedocs.org/en/latest/extensions.html.
+    """
+    f.off_by_default = True
     return f
 
 
diff --git a/hacking/tests/test_doctest.py b/hacking/tests/test_doctest.py
index f330dc9..af76dfb 100644
--- a/hacking/tests/test_doctest.py
+++ b/hacking/tests/test_doctest.py
@@ -37,6 +37,13 @@ class HackingTestCase(hacking.tests.TestCase):
     scenarios = file_cases
 
     def test_pep8(self):
+
+        # NOTE(jecarey): Add tests marked as off_by_default to enable testing
+        turn_on = set(['H106'])
+        if self.options.select:
+            turn_on.update(self.options.select)
+        self.options.select = tuple(turn_on)
+
         report = pep8.BaseReport(self.options)
         checker = pep8.Checker(lines=self.lines, options=self.options,
                                report=report)
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index 49e9868..7f16d1f 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ flake8.extension =
     H103 = hacking.checks.comments:hacking_has_correct_license
     H104 = hacking.checks.comments:hacking_has_only_comments
     H105 = hacking.checks.comments:hacking_no_author_tags
+    H106 = hacking.checks.vim_check:no_vim_headers
     H201 = hacking.checks.except_checks:hacking_except_format
     H202 = hacking.checks.except_checks:hacking_except_format_assert
     H231 = hacking.checks.python23:hacking_python3x_except_compatible
diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index 6eddcdb..9bfa2e4 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ commands = python setup.py build_sphinx
 [flake8]
 exclude = .venv,.tox,dist,doc,*.egg,build
 show-source = true
+select = H106
 
 [hacking]
 local-check = hacking.tests.test_local.check