diff --git a/nova/api/openstack/common.py b/nova/api/openstack/common.py
index 7da0afdae997..7ac2e000db65 100644
--- a/nova/api/openstack/common.py
+++ b/nova/api/openstack/common.py
@@ -346,18 +346,6 @@ def raise_http_conflict_for_instance_invalid_state(exc, action, server_id):
     raise webob.exc.HTTPConflict(explanation=msg)
 
 
-def check_snapshots_enabled(f):
-    @functools.wraps(f)
-    def inner(*args, **kwargs):
-        if not CONF.api.allow_instance_snapshots:
-            LOG.warning('Rejecting snapshot request, snapshots currently'
-                        ' disabled')
-            msg = _("Instance snapshots are not permitted at this time.")
-            raise webob.exc.HTTPBadRequest(explanation=msg)
-        return f(*args, **kwargs)
-    return inner
-
-
 def url_join(*parts):
     """Convenience method for joining parts of a URL
 
diff --git a/nova/api/openstack/compute/servers.py b/nova/api/openstack/compute/servers.py
index 61287bb3f35b..3cf5d17df894 100644
--- a/nova/api/openstack/compute/servers.py
+++ b/nova/api/openstack/compute/servers.py
@@ -983,7 +983,6 @@ class ServersController(wsgi.Controller):
     @wsgi.response(202)
     @wsgi.expected_errors((400, 403, 404, 409))
     @wsgi.action('createImage')
-    @common.check_snapshots_enabled
     @validation.schema(schema_servers.create_image, '2.0', '2.0')
     @validation.schema(schema_servers.create_image, '2.1')
     def _action_create_image(self, req, id, body):
diff --git a/nova/conf/api.py b/nova/conf/api.py
index bb41c753d29a..4bdb62fb5519 100644
--- a/nova/conf/api.py
+++ b/nova/conf/api.py
@@ -256,25 +256,6 @@ Possible values:
 """),
 ]
 
-allow_instance_snapshots_opts = [
-    cfg.BoolOpt("allow_instance_snapshots",
-        default=True,
-        deprecated_group="DEFAULT",
-        deprecated_for_removal=True,
-        deprecated_since="16.0.0",
-        deprecated_reason="This option disables the createImage server action "
-                          "API in a non-discoverable way and is thus a "
-                          "barrier to interoperability. Also, it is not used "
-                          "for other APIs that create snapshots like shelve "
-                          "or createBackup. Disabling snapshots should be "
-                          "done via policy if so desired.",
-        help="""
-Operators can turn off the ability for a user to take snapshots of their
-instances by setting this option to False. When disabled, any attempt to
-take a snapshot will result in a HTTP 400 response ("Bad Request").
-""")
-]
-
 # NOTE(edleafe): I would like to import the value directly from
 # nova.compute.vm_states, but that creates a circular import. Since this value
 # is not likely to be changed, I'm copy/pasting it here.
@@ -364,7 +345,6 @@ API_OPTS = (auth_opts +
             metadata_opts +
             file_opts +
             osapi_opts +
-            allow_instance_snapshots_opts +
             osapi_hide_opts +
             fping_path_opts +
             os_network_opts +
diff --git a/nova/tests/unit/api/openstack/compute/test_server_actions.py b/nova/tests/unit/api/openstack/compute/test_server_actions.py
index 591af6a52250..23c6efa6436d 100644
--- a/nova/tests/unit/api/openstack/compute/test_server_actions.py
+++ b/nova/tests/unit/api/openstack/compute/test_server_actions.py
@@ -86,9 +86,7 @@ class ServerActionsControllerTestV21(test.TestCase):
         fakes.stub_out_nw_api(self)
         fakes.stub_out_compute_api_snapshot(self)
         fake.stub_out_image_service(self)
-        self.flags(allow_instance_snapshots=True,
-                   enable_instance_password=True,
-                   group='api')
+        self.flags(enable_instance_password=True, group='api')
         self._image_href = '155d900f-4e14-4e4c-a73d-069cbf4541e6'
 
         self.controller = self._get_controller()
@@ -1130,20 +1128,6 @@ class ServerActionsControllerTestV21(test.TestCase):
         self._test_create_volume_backed_image_with_metadata_from_volume(
             extra_metadata={'a': 'b'})
 
-    def test_create_image_snapshots_disabled(self):
-        """Don't permit a snapshot if the allow_instance_snapshots flag is
-        False
-        """
-        self.flags(allow_instance_snapshots=False, group='api')
-        body = {
-            'createImage': {
-                'name': 'Snapshot 1',
-            },
-        }
-        self.assertRaises(webob.exc.HTTPBadRequest,
-                          self.controller._action_create_image,
-                          self.req, FAKE_UUID, body=body)
-
     def test_create_image_with_metadata(self):
         body = {
             'createImage': {
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/remove-deprecated-api-opts-d01d97fa19330e06.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/remove-deprecated-api-opts-d01d97fa19330e06.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..11e83077d204
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/remove-deprecated-api-opts-d01d97fa19330e06.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+---
+upgrade:
+  - |
+    The following deprecated configuration options have been removed from the
+    ``api`` section of ``nova.conf``:
+
+    - ``allow_instance_snapshots``
+
+    These were deprecated in the 16.0.0 release as they allowed inconsistent
+    API behavior across deployments. To disable snapshots in the
+    ``createImage`` server action API, change the
+    ``os_compute_api:servers:create_image`` and
+    ``os_compute_api:servers:create_image:allow_volume_backed`` policies.