diff --git a/nova/cells/filters/different_cell.py b/nova/cells/filters/different_cell.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..00607fad81a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nova/cells/filters/different_cell.py
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+#    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.
+
+"""
+Different cell filter.
+
+A scheduler hint of 'different_cell' with a value of a full cell name may be
+specified to route a build away from a particular cell.
+"""
+
+import six
+
+from nova.cells import filters
+from nova.cells import utils as cells_utils
+
+
+class DifferentCellFilter(filters.BaseCellFilter):
+    """Different cell filter.  Works by specifying a scheduler hint of
+    'different_cell'. The value should be the full cell path.
+    """
+    def filter_all(self, cells, filter_properties):
+        """Override filter_all() which operates on the full list
+        of cells...
+        """
+        scheduler_hints = filter_properties.get('scheduler_hints')
+        if not scheduler_hints:
+            return cells
+
+        cell_routes = scheduler_hints.get('different_cell')
+        if not cell_routes:
+            return cells
+        if isinstance(cell_routes, six.string_types):
+            cell_routes = [cell_routes]
+
+        if not self.authorized(filter_properties['context']):
+            # No filtering, if not authorized.
+            return cells
+
+        routing_path = filter_properties['routing_path']
+        filtered_cells = []
+        for cell in cells:
+            if not self._cell_state_matches(cell, routing_path, cell_routes):
+                filtered_cells.append(cell)
+
+        return filtered_cells
+
+    def _cell_state_matches(self, cell_state, routing_path, cell_routes):
+        cell_route = routing_path
+        if not cell_state.is_me:
+            cell_route += cells_utils.PATH_CELL_SEP + cell_state.name
+        if cell_route in cell_routes:
+            return True
+        return False
diff --git a/nova/tests/unit/cells/test_cells_filters.py b/nova/tests/unit/cells/test_cells_filters.py
index 482c804f3281..de78b2a978d3 100644
--- a/nova/tests/unit/cells/test_cells_filters.py
+++ b/nova/tests/unit/cells/test_cells_filters.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ Unit Tests for cells scheduler filters.
 """
 
 from nova.cells import filters
+from nova.cells import state
 from nova import context
 from nova.db.sqlalchemy import models
 from nova import test
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ class FiltersTestCase(test.NoDBTestCase):
         filter_classes = filters.all_filters()
         class_names = [cls.__name__ for cls in filter_classes]
         self.assertIn("TargetCellFilter", class_names)
+        self.assertIn("DifferentCellFilter", class_names)
 
 
 class _FilterTestClass(test.NoDBTestCase):
@@ -172,3 +174,57 @@ class TestTargetCellFilter(_FilterTestClass):
                          'cell': 'fake!cell!path',
                          'sched_kwargs': 'meow'}
         self.assertEqual(expected_info, info)
+
+
+class TestDifferentCellFilter(_FilterTestClass):
+    filter_cls_name = 'nova.cells.filters.different_cell.DifferentCellFilter'
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        super(TestDifferentCellFilter, self).setUp()
+        # We only load one filter so we know the first one is the one we want
+        self.policy.set_rules({'cells_scheduler_filter:DifferentCellFilter':
+            ''})
+        self.cells = [state.CellState('1'),
+                      state.CellState('2'),
+                      state.CellState('3')]
+
+    def test_missing_scheduler_hints(self):
+        filter_props = {'context': self.context}
+        # No filtering
+        self.assertEqual(self.cells,
+                self._filter_cells(self.cells, filter_props))
+
+    def test_no_different_cell_hint(self):
+        filter_props = {'scheduler_hints': {},
+                        'context': self.context}
+        # No filtering
+        self.assertEqual(self.cells,
+                self._filter_cells(self.cells, filter_props))
+
+    def test_different_cell(self):
+        filter_props = {'scheduler_hints': {'different_cell': 'fake!2'},
+                        'routing_path': 'fake',
+                        'context': self.context}
+        filtered_cells = self._filter_cells(self.cells, filter_props)
+        self.assertEqual(2, len(filtered_cells))
+        self.assertNotIn(self.cells[1], filtered_cells)
+
+    def test_different_multiple_cells(self):
+        filter_props = {'scheduler_hints':
+                            {'different_cell': ['fake!1', 'fake!2']},
+                        'routing_path': 'fake',
+                        'context': self.context}
+        filtered_cells = self._filter_cells(self.cells, filter_props)
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(filtered_cells))
+        self.assertNotIn(self.cells[0], filtered_cells)
+        self.assertNotIn(self.cells[1], filtered_cells)
+
+    def test_different_cell_specified_me_not_authorized(self):
+        self.policy.set_rules({'cells_scheduler_filter:DifferentCellFilter':
+            '!'})
+        filter_props = {'scheduler_hints': {'different_cell': 'fake!2'},
+                        'routing_path': 'fake',
+                        'context': self.context}
+        # No filtering, because not an admin.
+        self.assertEqual(self.cells,
+                self._filter_cells(self.cells, filter_props))