diff --git a/placement/conf/database.py b/placement/conf/database.py
index 47843b0d2..fb5b38efc 100644
--- a/placement/conf/database.py
+++ b/placement/conf/database.py
@@ -93,6 +93,10 @@ placement_db_opts = [
         help=''),
     cfg.IntOpt('pool_timeout',
         help=''),
+    cfg.BoolOpt('sync_on_startup',
+        default=False,
+        help='If True, database schema migrations will be attempted when the'
+             ' web service starts.'),
 ]  # noqa
 
 
diff --git a/placement/db_api.py b/placement/db_api.py
index 0f39da1c3..eb5fce403 100644
--- a/placement/db_api.py
+++ b/placement/db_api.py
@@ -21,7 +21,10 @@ placement_context_manager = enginefacade.transaction_context()
 
 
 def _get_db_conf(conf_group):
-    return dict(conf_group.items())
+    conf_dict = dict(conf_group.items())
+    # Remove the 'sync_on_startup' conf setting, enginefacade does not use it.
+    del conf_dict['sync_on_startup']
+    return conf_dict
 
 
 @run_once("TransactionFactory already started, not reconfiguring.",
diff --git a/placement/deploy.py b/placement/deploy.py
index 40d3e7c8f..490f6fd95 100644
--- a/placement/deploy.py
+++ b/placement/deploy.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import oslo_middleware
 from oslo_middleware import cors
 
 from placement import auth
+from placement.db.sqlalchemy import migration
 from placement import db_api
 from placement import fault_wrap
 from placement import handler
@@ -91,10 +92,12 @@ def deploy(conf):
     return application
 
 
-def update_database():
+def update_database(conf):
     """Do any database updates required at process boot time, such as
     updating the traits table.
     """
+    if conf.placement_database.sync_on_startup:
+        migration.upgrade('head')
     ctx = db_api.DbContext()
     resource_provider.ensure_trait_sync(ctx)
     resource_provider.ensure_resource_classes_sync(ctx)
@@ -117,5 +120,5 @@ def loadapp(config, project_name=NAME):
                          backwards compatibility
     """
     application = deploy(config)
-    update_database()
+    update_database(config)
     return application
diff --git a/placement/tests/fixtures.py b/placement/tests/fixtures.py
index c5236439b..4638acd0a 100644
--- a/placement/tests/fixtures.py
+++ b/placement/tests/fixtures.py
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ class Database(test_fixtures.GeneratesSchema, test_fixtures.AdHocDbFixture):
         self.cleanup()
 
         # Sync traits and resource classes.
-        deploy.update_database()
+        deploy.update_database(self.conf_fixture.conf)
 
     def cleanup(self):
         resource_provider._TRAITS_SYNCED = False
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/db-auto-sync-e418f3f181958c7c.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/db-auto-sync-e418f3f181958c7c.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cb60520ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/db-auto-sync-e418f3f181958c7c.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+---
+features:
+  - |
+    A configuration setting ``[placement_database]/sync_on_startup`` is added
+    which, if set to ``True``, will cause database schema migrations to be
+    called when the placement web application is started. This avoids the need
+    to call ``placement-manage db sync`` separately.
+
+    To preserve backwards compatbility and avoid unexpected changes, the
+    default of the setting is ``False``.