diff --git a/oslo_db/options.py b/oslo_db/options.py
index d5d15cf1..1ce23815 100644
--- a/oslo_db/options.py
+++ b/oslo_db/options.py
@@ -10,18 +10,10 @@
 #  License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 #  under the License.
 
-from debtcollector import removals
 from oslo_config import cfg
 
 
 database_opts = [
-    cfg.StrOpt('sqlite_db',
-               deprecated_for_removal=True,
-               deprecated_reason='Should use config option connection or '
-                                 'slave_connection to connect the database.',
-               deprecated_group='DEFAULT',
-               default='oslo.sqlite',
-               help='The file name to use with SQLite.'),
     cfg.BoolOpt('sqlite_synchronous',
                 deprecated_group='DEFAULT',
                 default=True,
@@ -143,12 +135,8 @@ database_opts = [
 ]
 
 
-@removals.removed_kwarg("sqlite_db",
-                        "Config option sqlite_db is deprecated for removal,"
-                        "please use option `connection`.")
-def set_defaults(conf, connection=None, sqlite_db=None,
-                 max_pool_size=None, max_overflow=None,
-                 pool_timeout=None):
+def set_defaults(conf, connection=None, max_pool_size=None,
+                 max_overflow=None, pool_timeout=None):
     """Set defaults for configuration variables.
 
     Overrides default options values.
@@ -165,9 +153,6 @@ def set_defaults(conf, connection=None, sqlite_db=None,
         * sqlite:////absolute/path/to/file.db
     :type connection: str
 
-    :keyword sqlite_db: path to SQLite database file.
-    :type sqlite_db: str
-
     :keyword max_pool_size: maximum connections pool size. The size of the pool
      to be maintained, defaults to 5. This is the largest number of connections
      that will be kept persistently in the pool. Note that the pool begins with
@@ -200,8 +185,6 @@ def set_defaults(conf, connection=None, sqlite_db=None,
 
     if connection is not None:
         conf.set_default('connection', connection, group='database')
-    if sqlite_db is not None:
-        conf.set_default('sqlite_db', sqlite_db, group='database')
     if max_pool_size is not None:
         conf.set_default('max_pool_size', max_pool_size, group='database')
     if max_overflow is not None:
diff --git a/oslo_db/sqlalchemy/enginefacade.py b/oslo_db/sqlalchemy/enginefacade.py
index 25196686..88bca6b0 100644
--- a/oslo_db/sqlalchemy/enginefacade.py
+++ b/oslo_db/sqlalchemy/enginefacade.py
@@ -169,8 +169,7 @@ class _TransactionFactory(object):
                 'db_max_retries', 'db_inc_retry_interval',
                 'use_db_reconnect',
                 'db_retry_interval', 'min_pool_size',
-                'db_max_retry_interval',
-                'sqlite_db', 'backend'])
+                'db_max_retry_interval', 'backend'])
 
         self._started = False
         self._legacy_facade = None
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/remove-config-option-sqlite_db-7b7c6459135fd8c9.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/remove-config-option-sqlite_db-7b7c6459135fd8c9.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d8f10d01
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/remove-config-option-sqlite_db-7b7c6459135fd8c9.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+upgrade:
+  - The configuration option ``sqlite_db`` is removed. Pease use
+    configuration option ``connection`` or ``slave_connection``
+    to connect to the database.