diff --git a/doc/source/admin/components.rst b/doc/source/admin/components.rst
index 19e5680ef8..74ca471a12 100644
--- a/doc/source/admin/components.rst
+++ b/doc/source/admin/components.rst
@@ -830,6 +830,8 @@ sections of ``zuul.conf`` are used by the web server:
       The Cache-Control max-age response header value for static files served
       by the zuul-web. Set to 0 during development to disable Cache-Control.
 
+.. _web-server-tenant-scoped-api:
+
 Enabling tenant-scoped access to privileged actions
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
@@ -853,8 +855,9 @@ protected endpoints and configure JWT validation:
    .. attr:: allow_authz_override
       :default: false
 
-      Allow a JWT to override predefined access rules. Since predefined access
-      rules are not supported yet, this should be set to ``true``.
+      Allow a JWT to override predefined access rules. See the section on
+      :ref:`JWT contents <jwt-format>` for more details on how to grant access
+      to tenants with a JWT.
 
    .. attr:: realm
 
diff --git a/doc/source/admin/tenant-scoped-rest-api.rst b/doc/source/admin/tenant-scoped-rest-api.rst
index 786d920e10..4d411bf393 100644
--- a/doc/source/admin/tenant-scoped-rest-api.rst
+++ b/doc/source/admin/tenant-scoped-rest-api.rst
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 :title: Tenant Scoped REST API
 
+.. _tenant-scoped-rest-api:
+
 Tenant Scoped REST API
 ======================
 
@@ -36,8 +38,33 @@ and Tokens should be handed over with discernment.
 Configuration
 -------------
 
-See the Zuul Web Server component's section about enabling tenant-scoped access to
-privileged actions.
+To enable tenant-scoped access to privileged actions, see the Zuul Web Server
+component's section.
+
+To set access rules for a tenant, see :ref:`the documentation about tenant
+definition <admin_rule_definition>`.
+
+Most of the time, only one authenticator will be needed in Zuul's configuration;
+namely the configuration matching a third party identity provider service like
+dex, auth0, keycloak or others. It can be useful however to add another
+authenticator similar to this one:
+
+.. code-block:: ini
+
+    [auth zuul_operator]
+    driver=HS256
+    allow_authz_override=true
+    realm=zuul.example.com
+    client_id=zuul.example.com
+    issuer_id=zuul_operator
+    secret=NoDanaOnlyZuul
+
+With such an authenticator, a Zuul operator can use Zuul's CLI to
+issue Tokens overriding a tenant's access rules if need
+be. A user can then use these Tokens with Zuul's CLI to perform protected actions
+on a tenant temporarily, without having to modify a tenant's access rules.
+
+.. _jwt-format:
 
 JWT Format
 ----------
diff --git a/doc/source/admin/tenants.rst b/doc/source/admin/tenants.rst
index fd8592e45a..0e619d1d37 100644
--- a/doc/source/admin/tenants.rst
+++ b/doc/source/admin/tenants.rst
@@ -15,11 +15,15 @@ rest (no pipelines, jobs, etc are shared between them).
 A project may appear in more than one tenant; this may be useful if
 you wish to use common job definitions across multiple tenants.
 
+Actions normally available to the Zuul operator only can be performed by specific
+users on Zuul's REST API, if admin rules are listed for the tenant. Admin rules
+are also defined in the tenant configuration file.
+
 The tenant configuration file is specified by the
 :attr:`scheduler.tenant_config` setting in ``zuul.conf``.  It is a
 YAML file which, like other Zuul configuration files, is a list of
-configuration objects, though only one type of object is supported:
-``tenant``.
+configuration objects, though only two types of objects are supported:
+``tenant`` and ``admin-rule``.
 
 Alternatively the :attr:`scheduler.tenant_config_script`
 can be the path to an executable that will be executed and its stdout
@@ -55,6 +59,9 @@ configuration. Some examples of tenant definitions are:
 
    - tenant:
        name: my-tenant
+       admin-rules:
+         - acl1
+         - acl2
        source:
          gerrit:
            config-projects:
@@ -84,6 +91,17 @@ configuration. Some examples of tenant definitions are:
       characters (ASCII letters, numbers, hyphen and underscore) and
       you should avoid changing it unless necessary.
 
+   .. attr:: admin-rules
+
+      A list of access rules for the tenant. These rules are checked to grant
+      privileged actions to users at the tenant level, through Zuul's REST API.
+
+      At least one rule in the list must match for the user to be allowed the
+      privileged action.
+
+      More information on tenant-scoped actions can be found in
+      :ref:`this section <tenant-scoped-rest-api>`.
+
    .. attr:: source
       :required:
 
@@ -288,3 +306,107 @@ configuration. Some examples of tenant definitions are:
       The list of labels regexp a tenant can use in job's nodeset. When set,
       this setting can be used to restrict what labels a tenant can use.
       Without this setting, the tenant can use any labels.
+
+.. _admin_rule_definition:
+
+Access Rule
+-----------
+
+An access rule is a set of conditions the claims of a user's JWT must match
+in order to be allowed to perform protected actions at a tenant's level.
+
+The protected actions available at tenant level are **autohold**, **enqueue**
+or **dequeue**.
+
+.. note::
+
+   Rules can be overridden by the ``zuul.admin`` claim in a Token if if matches
+   an authenticator configuration where `allow_authz_override` is set to true.
+   See :ref:`Zuul web server's configuration <web-server-tenant-scoped-api>` for
+   more details.
+
+Below are some examples of how access rules can be defined:
+
+.. code-block:: yaml
+
+   - admin-rule:
+       name: ghostbuster_or_gozerian
+       conditions:
+         - resources_access.account.roles: "ghostbuster"
+           iss: columbia_university
+         - resources_access.account.roles: "gozerian"
+   - admin-rule:
+       name: venkman_or_stantz
+       conditions:
+         - zuul_uid: venkman
+         - zuul_uid: stantz
+
+
+.. attr:: admin-rule
+
+   The following attributes are supported:
+
+   .. attr:: name
+      :required:
+
+      The name of the rule, so that it can be referenced in the ``admin-rules``
+      attribute of a tenant's definition. It must be unique.
+
+   .. attr:: conditions
+      :required:
+
+      This is the list of conditions that define a rule. A JWT must match **at
+      least one** of the conditions for the rule to apply. A condition is a
+      dictionary where keys are claims. **All** the associated values must
+      match the claims in the user's Token.
+
+      Zuul's authorization engine will adapt matching tests depending on the
+      nature of the claim in the Token, eg:
+
+      * if the claim is a JSON list, check that the condition value is in the
+        claim
+      * if the claim is a string, check that the condition value is equal to
+        the claim's value
+
+        In order to allow the parsing of claims with complex structures like
+        dictionaries, claim names can be written in the XPath format.
+
+        The special ``zuul_uid`` claim refers to the ``uid_claim`` setting in an
+        authenticator's configuration. By default it refers to the ``sub`` claim
+        of a Token. For more details see the :ref:`configuration section
+        <web-server-tenant-scoped-api>` for Zuul web server.
+
+        Under the above example, the following Token would match rules
+        ``ghostbuster_or_gozerian`` and ``venkman_or_stantz``:
+
+        .. code-block:: javascript
+
+          {
+           'iss': 'columbia_university',
+           'aud': 'my_zuul_deployment',
+           'exp': 1234567890,
+           'iat': 1234556780,
+           'sub': 'venkman',
+           'resources_access': {
+               'account': {
+                   'roles': ['ghostbuster', 'played_by_bill_murray']
+               }
+           },
+          }
+
+        And this Token would only match rule ``ghostbuster_or_gozerian``:
+
+        .. code-block:: javascript
+
+          {
+           'iss': 'some_hellish_dimension',
+           'aud': 'my_zuul_deployment',
+           'exp': 1234567890,
+           'sub': 'vinz_clortho',
+           'iat': 1234556780,
+           'resources_access': {
+               'account': {
+                   'roles': ['gozerian', 'keymaster']
+               }
+           },
+          }
diff --git a/etc/zuul.conf-sample b/etc/zuul.conf-sample
index c054169629..c0916c6c43 100644
--- a/etc/zuul.conf-sample
+++ b/etc/zuul.conf-sample
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@ listen_address=127.0.0.1
 port=9000
 static_cache_expiry=0
 status_url=https://zuul.example.com/status
-authorizations_config=/etc/zuul/authorizations.yaml
 
 [webclient]
 url=https://zuul.example.com
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/admin_web_api-1331c81070a3e67f.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/admin_web_api-1331c81070a3e67f.yaml
index 786d5de1e4..91631e097a 100644
--- a/releasenotes/notes/admin_web_api-1331c81070a3e67f.yaml
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/admin_web_api-1331c81070a3e67f.yaml
@@ -3,8 +3,9 @@ features:
   - |
     Allow users to perform tenant-scoped, privileged actions either through
     zuul-web's REST API or zuul's client, based on the JWT standard. The users
-    need a valid bearer token to perform such actions; the scope is set via a
-    token claim.
+    need a valid bearer token to perform such actions; the scope is set by matching
+    conditions on tokens' claims; these conditions can be defined in zuul's tenant
+    configuration file.
     Zuul supports token signing and validation using the HS256 or RS256 algorithms.
     External JWKS are also supported for token validation only.
     Current tenant-scoped actions are "autohold", "enqueue" and "dequeue".
diff --git a/tests/base.py b/tests/base.py
index a30af1b101..81d7b05f05 100644
--- a/tests/base.py
+++ b/tests/base.py
@@ -2531,7 +2531,6 @@ class ZuulWebFixture(fixtures.Fixture):
                              zuul.driver.pagure.PagureDriver])
         self.authenticators = zuul.lib.auth.AuthenticatorRegistry()
         self.authenticators.configure(config)
-        self.authorizations = zuul.lib.auth.AuthorizationRegistry()
         if info is None:
             self.info = zuul.model.WebInfo()
         else:
@@ -2548,8 +2547,7 @@ class ZuulWebFixture(fixtures.Fixture):
             connections=self.connections,
             zk_hosts=self.zk_hosts,
             command_socket=os.path.join(self.test_root, 'web.socket'),
-            authenticators=self.authenticators,
-            authorizations=self.authorizations)
+            authenticators=self.authenticators)
         self.web.start()
         self.addCleanup(self.stop)
 
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/config/authorization/rules/rules.yaml b/tests/fixtures/config/authorization/rules/rules.yaml
deleted file mode 100644
index dea5c15816..0000000000
--- a/tests/fixtures/config/authorization/rules/rules.yaml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-- rule:
-    name: venkman_rule
-    conditions:
-      - zuul_uid: venkman
-- rule:
-    name: columbia_rule
-    conditions:
-      - sub: stantz
-        iss: columbia.edu
-      - sub: zeddemore
-        iss: columbia.edu
-- rule:
-    name: gb_rule
-    conditions:
-      - groups: ghostbusters
-    claim_types:
-      - groups: list
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/config/authorization/single-tenant/main.yaml b/tests/fixtures/config/authorization/single-tenant/main.yaml
index 8baca519ce..cc5eb8af1c 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures/config/authorization/single-tenant/main.yaml
+++ b/tests/fixtures/config/authorization/single-tenant/main.yaml
@@ -1,7 +1,29 @@
+- admin-rule:
+    name: venkman_rule
+    conditions:
+      - zuul_uid: venkman
+- admin-rule:
+    name: columbia_rule
+    conditions:
+      - sub: stantz
+        iss: columbia.edu
+      - sub: zeddemore
+        iss: columbia.edu
+- admin-rule:
+    name: gb_rule
+    conditions:
+      - groups: ghostbusters
+- admin-rule:
+    name: car_rule
+    conditions:
+      - car: ecto-1
 - tenant:
     name: tenant-one
-    admin_rules:
+    admin-rules:
       - venkman_rule
+      - car_rule
+      - gb_rule
+      - columbia_rule
     source:
       gerrit:
         config-projects:
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/zuul-admin-web-no-override.conf b/tests/fixtures/zuul-admin-web-no-override.conf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..897f18557b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/fixtures/zuul-admin-web-no-override.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+[gearman]
+server=127.0.0.1
+
+[scheduler]
+tenant_config=main.yaml
+relative_priority=true
+
+[merger]
+git_dir=/tmp/zuul-test/merger-git
+git_user_email=zuul@example.com
+git_user_name=zuul
+
+[executor]
+git_dir=/tmp/zuul-test/executor-git
+
+[connection gerrit]
+driver=gerrit
+server=review.example.com
+user=jenkins
+sshkey=fake_id_rsa_path
+
+[web]
+static_cache_expiry=1200
+
+[auth zuul_operator]
+driver=HS256
+allow_authz_override=false
+realm=zuul.example.com
+client_id=zuul.example.com
+issuer_id=zuul_operator
+secret=NoDanaOnlyZuul
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_configloader.py b/tests/unit/test_configloader.py
index 4729d86557..e2a8111331 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_configloader.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_configloader.py
@@ -427,6 +427,13 @@ class TestAuthorizationRuleParser(ZuulTestCase):
         rules = self.sched.abide.admin_rules
         self.assertTrue('auth-rule-one' in rules, self.sched.abide)
         self.assertTrue('auth-rule-two' in rules, self.sched.abide)
+        claims_1 = {'sub': 'venkman'}
+        claims_2 = {'sub': 'gozer',
+                    'iss': 'another_dimension'}
+        self.assertTrue(rules['auth-rule-one'](claims_1))
+        self.assertTrue(not rules['auth-rule-one'](claims_2))
+        self.assertTrue(not rules['auth-rule-two'](claims_1))
+        self.assertTrue(rules['auth-rule-two'](claims_2))
 
     def test_parse_simplest_rule_from_yaml(self):
         rule_d = {'name': 'my-rule',
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_scheduler.py b/tests/unit/test_scheduler.py
index 6bcf359327..e8e71ea925 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_scheduler.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_scheduler.py
@@ -107,6 +107,37 @@ class TestSchedulerZone(ZuulTestCase):
                          'label1')
 
 
+class TestAuthorizeViaRPC(ZuulTestCase):
+    tenant_config_file = 'config/authorization/single-tenant/main.yaml'
+
+    def test_authorize_via_rpc(self):
+        client = zuul.rpcclient.RPCClient('127.0.0.1',
+                                          self.gearman_server.port)
+        self.addCleanup(client.shutdown)
+        claims = {'__zuul_uid_claim': 'venkman'}
+        authorized = client.submitJob('zuul:authorize_user',
+                                      {'tenant': 'tenant-one',
+                                       'claims': claims}).data[0]
+        self.assertTrue(json.loads(authorized))
+        claims = {'sub': 'gozer'}
+        authorized = client.submitJob('zuul:authorize_user',
+                                      {'tenant': 'tenant-one',
+                                       'claims': claims}).data[0]
+        self.assertTrue(not json.loads(authorized))
+        claims = {'sub': 'stantz',
+                  'iss': 'columbia.edu'}
+        authorized = client.submitJob('zuul:authorize_user',
+                                      {'tenant': 'tenant-one',
+                                       'claims': claims}).data[0]
+        self.assertTrue(json.loads(authorized))
+        claims = {'sub': 'slimer',
+                  'groups': ['ghostbusters', 'ectoplasms']}
+        authorized = client.submitJob('zuul:authorize_user',
+                                      {'tenant': 'tenant-one',
+                                       'claims': claims}).data[0]
+        self.assertTrue(json.loads(authorized))
+
+
 class TestScheduler(ZuulTestCase):
     tenant_config_file = 'config/single-tenant/main.yaml'
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_web.py b/tests/unit/test_web.py
index faa8fa3436..1b0c4df32a 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_web.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_web.py
@@ -1413,3 +1413,129 @@ class TestTenantScopedWebApi(BaseTestWeb):
         self.executor_server.release()
         self.waitUntilSettled()
         self.assertEqual(self.countJobResults(self.history, 'ABORTED'), 1)
+
+
+class TestTenantScopedWebApiWithAuthRules(BaseTestWeb):
+    config_file = 'zuul-admin-web-no-override.conf'
+    tenant_config_file = 'config/authorization/single-tenant/main.yaml'
+
+    def test_override_not_allowed(self):
+        """Test that authz cannot be overriden if config does not allow it"""
+        args = {"reason": "some reason",
+                "count": 1,
+                'job': 'project-test2',
+                'change': None,
+                'ref': None,
+                'node_hold_expiration': None}
+        authz = {'iss': 'zuul_operator',
+                 'aud': 'zuul.example.com',
+                 'sub': 'testuser',
+                 'zuul': {
+                     'admin': ['tenant-one', ],
+                 },
+                 'exp': time.time() + 3600}
+        token = jwt.encode(authz, key='NoDanaOnlyZuul',
+                           algorithm='HS256').decode('utf-8')
+        req = self.post_url(
+            'api/tenant/tenant-one/project/org/project/autohold',
+            headers={'Authorization': 'Bearer %s' % token},
+            json=args)
+        self.assertEqual(401, req.status_code, req.text)
+
+    def test_tenant_level_rule(self):
+        """Test that authz rules defined at tenant level are checked"""
+        path = "api/tenant/%(tenant)s/project/%(project)s/enqueue"
+
+        def _test_project_enqueue_with_authz(i, project, authz, expected):
+            f_ch = self.fake_gerrit.addFakeChange(project, 'master',
+                                                  '%s %i' % (project, i))
+            f_ch.addApproval('Code-Review', 2)
+            f_ch.addApproval('Approved', 1)
+            change = {'trigger': 'gerrit',
+                      'change': '%i,1' % i,
+                      'pipeline': 'gate', }
+            enqueue_args = {'tenant': 'tenant-one',
+                            'project': project, }
+
+            token = jwt.encode(authz, key='NoDanaOnlyZuul',
+                               algorithm='HS256').decode('utf-8')
+            req = self.post_url(path % enqueue_args,
+                                headers={'Authorization': 'Bearer %s' % token},
+                                json=change)
+            self.assertEqual(expected, req.status_code, req.text)
+            self.waitUntilSettled()
+
+        i = 0
+        for p in ['org/project', 'org/project1', 'org/project2']:
+            i += 1
+            # Authorized sub
+            authz = {'iss': 'zuul_operator',
+                     'aud': 'zuul.example.com',
+                     'sub': 'venkman',
+                     'exp': time.time() + 3600}
+            _test_project_enqueue_with_authz(i, p, authz, 200)
+            i += 1
+            # Unauthorized sub
+            authz = {'iss': 'zuul_operator',
+                     'aud': 'zuul.example.com',
+                     'sub': 'vigo',
+                     'exp': time.time() + 3600}
+            _test_project_enqueue_with_authz(i, p, authz, 403)
+            i += 1
+            # unauthorized issuer
+            authz = {'iss': 'columbia.edu',
+                     'aud': 'zuul.example.com',
+                     'sub': 'stantz',
+                     'exp': time.time() + 3600}
+            _test_project_enqueue_with_authz(i, p, authz, 401)
+        self.waitUntilSettled()
+
+    def test_group_rule(self):
+        """Test a group rule"""
+        A = self.fake_gerrit.addFakeChange('org/project2', 'master', 'A')
+        A.addApproval('Code-Review', 2)
+        A.addApproval('Approved', 1)
+
+        authz = {'iss': 'zuul_operator',
+                 'aud': 'zuul.example.com',
+                 'sub': 'melnitz',
+                 'groups': ['ghostbusters', 'secretary'],
+                 'exp': time.time() + 3600}
+        token = jwt.encode(authz, key='NoDanaOnlyZuul',
+                           algorithm='HS256').decode('utf-8')
+        path = "api/tenant/%(tenant)s/project/%(project)s/enqueue"
+        enqueue_args = {'tenant': 'tenant-one',
+                        'project': 'org/project2', }
+        change = {'trigger': 'gerrit',
+                  'change': '1,1',
+                  'pipeline': 'gate', }
+        req = self.post_url(path % enqueue_args,
+                            headers={'Authorization': 'Bearer %s' % token},
+                            json=change)
+        self.assertEqual(200, req.status_code, req.text)
+        self.waitUntilSettled()
+
+    def test_arbitrary_claim_rule(self):
+        """Test a rule based on a specific claim"""
+        A = self.fake_gerrit.addFakeChange('org/project', 'master', 'A')
+        A.addApproval('Code-Review', 2)
+        A.addApproval('Approved', 1)
+
+        authz = {'iss': 'zuul_operator',
+                 'aud': 'zuul.example.com',
+                 'sub': 'zeddemore',
+                 'car': 'ecto-1',
+                 'exp': time.time() + 3600}
+        token = jwt.encode(authz, key='NoDanaOnlyZuul',
+                           algorithm='HS256').decode('utf-8')
+        path = "api/tenant/%(tenant)s/project/%(project)s/enqueue"
+        enqueue_args = {'tenant': 'tenant-one',
+                        'project': 'org/project', }
+        change = {'trigger': 'gerrit',
+                  'change': '1,1',
+                  'pipeline': 'gate', }
+        req = self.post_url(path % enqueue_args,
+                            headers={'Authorization': 'Bearer %s' % token},
+                            json=change)
+        self.assertEqual(200, req.status_code, req.text)
+        self.waitUntilSettled()
diff --git a/zuul/cmd/web.py b/zuul/cmd/web.py
index 1c88f56d49..e2ecc2bb1e 100755
--- a/zuul/cmd/web.py
+++ b/zuul/cmd/web.py
@@ -74,7 +74,6 @@ class WebServer(zuul.cmd.ZuulDaemonApp):
 
         params['connections'] = self.connections
         params['authenticators'] = self.authenticators
-        params['authorizations'] = self.authorizations
         # Validate config here before we spin up the ZuulWeb object
         for conn_name, connection in self.connections.connections.items():
             try:
@@ -113,9 +112,6 @@ class WebServer(zuul.cmd.ZuulDaemonApp):
         self.authenticators = zuul.lib.auth.AuthenticatorRegistry()
         self.authenticators.configure(self.config)
 
-    def configure_authorizations(self):
-        self.authorizations = zuul.lib.auth.AuthorizationRegistry()
-
     def run(self):
         if self.args.command in zuul.web.COMMANDS:
             self.send_command(self.args.command)
@@ -130,7 +126,6 @@ class WebServer(zuul.cmd.ZuulDaemonApp):
                                  zuul.driver.github.GithubDriver,
                                  zuul.driver.pagure.PagureDriver])
             self.configure_authenticators()
-            self.configure_authorizations()
             self._run()
         except Exception:
             self.log.exception("Exception from WebServer:")
diff --git a/zuul/configloader.py b/zuul/configloader.py
index 52c539053e..617897815c 100644
--- a/zuul/configloader.py
+++ b/zuul/configloader.py
@@ -1340,6 +1340,8 @@ class AuthorizationRuleParser(object):
             elif isinstance(node, dict):
                 subrules = []
                 for claim, value in node.items():
+                    if claim == 'zuul_uid':
+                        claim = '__zuul_uid_claim'
                     subrules.append(model.ClaimRule(claim, value))
                 return model.AndRule(subrules)
             else:
@@ -1465,6 +1467,8 @@ class TenantParser(object):
         if conf.get('exclude-unprotected-branches') is not None:
             tenant.exclude_unprotected_branches = \
                 conf['exclude-unprotected-branches']
+        if conf.get('admin-rules') is not None:
+            tenant.authorization_rules = conf['admin-rules']
         tenant.allowed_triggers = conf.get('allowed-triggers')
         tenant.allowed_reporters = conf.get('allowed-reporters')
         tenant.allowed_labels = conf.get('allowed-labels')
diff --git a/zuul/driver/auth/jwt.py b/zuul/driver/auth/jwt.py
index 40442d24e0..2579c3a33d 100644
--- a/zuul/driver/auth/jwt.py
+++ b/zuul/driver/auth/jwt.py
@@ -36,6 +36,11 @@ class JWTAuthenticator(AuthenticatorInterface):
         self.audience = conf.get('client_id')
         self.realm = conf.get('realm')
         self.allow_authz_override = conf.get('allow_authz_override', False)
+        if isinstance(self.allow_authz_override, str):
+            if self.allow_authz_override.lower() == 'true':
+                self.allow_authz_override = True
+            else:
+                self.allow_authz_override = False
 
     def _decode(self, rawToken):
         raise NotImplementedError
@@ -90,8 +95,9 @@ class JWTAuthenticator(AuthenticatorInterface):
 
     def authenticate(self, rawToken):
         decoded = self.decodeToken(rawToken)
-        return (decoded[self.uid_claim],
-                decoded.get('zuul', {}).get('admin', []))
+        # inject the special authenticator-specific uid
+        decoded['__zuul_uid_claim'] = decoded[self.uid_claim]
+        return decoded
 
 
 class HS256Authenticator(JWTAuthenticator):
diff --git a/zuul/lib/auth.py b/zuul/lib/auth.py
index 14f5e0c0ac..3e96fd140f 100644
--- a/zuul/lib/auth.py
+++ b/zuul/lib/auth.py
@@ -19,45 +19,11 @@ import jwt
 
 from zuul import exceptions
 import zuul.driver.auth.jwt as auth_jwt
-from zuul.configloader import AuthorizationRuleParser
 
 
 """AuthN/AuthZ related library, used by zuul-web."""
 
 
-class AuthorizationRegistry(object):
-    """Registry of authorization rules.
-
-    reconfigure(rules) takes a JSON list to create the ruleset; typically
-    provided by the scheduler."""
-
-    log = logging.getLogger("Zuul.AuthorizationRegistry")
-
-    def __init__(self):
-        self.ruleset = {}
-
-    def reconfigure(self, rules):
-        if not isinstance(rules, list):
-            raise Exception('Authorizations file must be a list of rules')
-        new_ruleset = {}
-        ruleparser = AuthorizationRuleParser()
-        for rule in rules:
-            if not isinstance(rule, dict):
-                raise Exception('Invalid rule format for rule "%r"' % rule)
-            if len(rule.keys()) > 1:
-                raise Exception('Rules must consist of "rule" element only')
-            if 'rule' in rule:
-                rule_tree = ruleparser.fromYaml(rule['rule'])
-                if rule_tree.name in new_ruleset:
-                    raise Exception(
-                        'Rule "%s" is defined at least twice' % rule_tree.name)
-                else:
-                    new_ruleset[rule_tree.name] = rule_tree
-            else:
-                raise Exception('Unknown element "%s"' % rule.keys()[0])
-        self.ruleset = new_ruleset
-
-
 class AuthenticatorRegistry(object):
     """Registry of authenticators as they are declared in the configuration"""
 
diff --git a/zuul/rpclistener.py b/zuul/rpclistener.py
index 998abc0494..2e1441323c 100644
--- a/zuul/rpclistener.py
+++ b/zuul/rpclistener.py
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ class RPCListener(object):
             'key_get',
             'config_errors_list',
             'connection_list',
+            'authorize_user',
         ]
         for func in functions:
             f = getattr(self, 'handle_%s' % func)
@@ -281,6 +282,29 @@ class RPCListener(object):
             job_log_stream_address['port'] = build.worker.log_port
         job.sendWorkComplete(json.dumps(job_log_stream_address))
 
+    def handle_authorize_user(self, job):
+        args = json.loads(job.arguments)
+        tenant_name = args['tenant']
+        claims = args['claims']
+        tenant = self.sched.abide.tenants.get(tenant_name)
+        authorized = False
+        if tenant:
+            rules = tenant.authorization_rules
+            for rule in rules:
+                if rule not in self.sched.abide.admin_rules.keys():
+                    self.log.error('Undefined rule "%s"' % rule)
+                    continue
+                debug_msg = 'Applying rule "%s" from tenant "%s" to claims %s'
+                self.log.debug(
+                    debug_msg % (rule, tenant, json.dumps(claims)))
+                authorized = self.sched.abide.admin_rules[rule](claims)
+                if authorized:
+                    debug_msg = '%s authorized on tenant "%s" by rule "%s"'
+                    self.log.debug(
+                        debug_msg % (json.dumps(claims), tenant, rule))
+                    break
+        job.sendWorkComplete(json.dumps(authorized))
+
     def handle_tenant_list(self, job):
         output = []
         for tenant_name, tenant in self.sched.abide.tenants.items():
diff --git a/zuul/web/__init__.py b/zuul/web/__init__.py
index 14810414ce..68767d34b8 100755
--- a/zuul/web/__init__.py
+++ b/zuul/web/__init__.py
@@ -44,16 +44,6 @@ cherrypy.tools.websocket = WebSocketTool()
 COMMANDS = ['stop', 'repl', 'norepl']
 
 
-def is_authorized(uid, tenant, authN=None):
-    """Simple authorization checker. For now, relies on the passed authN
-    dictionary to figure out whether 'uid' is allowed 'action' on
-    'tenant/project'.
-    This is just a stub that will be expanded in subsequent patches."""
-    if authN is None:
-        authN = []
-    return (tenant in authN)
-
-
 class SaveParamsTool(cherrypy.Tool):
     """
     Save the URL parameters to allow them to take precedence over query
@@ -259,19 +249,17 @@ class ZuulWebAPI(object):
         # AuthN/AuthZ
         rawToken = cherrypy.request.headers['Authorization'][len('Bearer '):]
         try:
-            uid, authz = self.zuulweb.authenticators.authenticate(rawToken)
+            claims = self.zuulweb.authenticators.authenticate(rawToken)
         except exceptions.AuthTokenException as e:
             for header, contents in e.getAdditionalHeaders().items():
                 cherrypy.response.headers[header] = contents
             cherrypy.response.status = e.HTTPError
             return '<h1>%s</h1>' % e.error_description
-        # TODO plug an actual authorization mechanism, for now rely on token
-        # content
-        if not is_authorized(uid, tenant, authz):
-            raise cherrypy.HTTPError(403)
+        self.is_authorized(claims, tenant)
+        msg = 'User "%s" requesting "%s" on %s/%s'
         self.log.info(
-            'User "%s" requesting "%s" on %s/%s' % (uid, 'dequeue',
-                                                    tenant, project))
+            msg % (claims['__zuul_uid_claim'], 'dequeue',
+                   tenant, project))
 
         body = cherrypy.request.json
         if 'pipeline' in body and (
@@ -303,19 +291,17 @@ class ZuulWebAPI(object):
         # AuthN/AuthZ
         rawToken = cherrypy.request.headers['Authorization'][len('Bearer '):]
         try:
-            uid, authz = self.zuulweb.authenticators.authenticate(rawToken)
+            claims = self.zuulweb.authenticators.authenticate(rawToken)
         except exceptions.AuthTokenException as e:
             for header, contents in e.getAdditionalHeaders().items():
                 cherrypy.response.headers[header] = contents
             cherrypy.response.status = e.HTTPError
             return '<h1>%s</h1>' % e.error_description
-        # TODO plug an actual authorization mechanism, for now rely on token
-        # content
-        if not is_authorized(uid, tenant, authz):
-            raise cherrypy.HTTPError(403)
+        self.is_authorized(claims, tenant)
+        msg = 'User "%s" requesting "%s" on %s/%s'
         self.log.info(
-            'User "%s" requesting "%s" on %s/%s' % (uid, 'enqueue',
-                                                    tenant, project))
+            msg % (claims['__zuul_uid_claim'], 'enqueue',
+                   tenant, project))
 
         body = cherrypy.request.json
         if all(p in body for p in ['trigger', 'change', 'pipeline']):
@@ -380,19 +366,17 @@ class ZuulWebAPI(object):
             rawToken = \
                 cherrypy.request.headers['Authorization'][len('Bearer '):]
             try:
-                uid, authz = self.zuulweb.authenticators.authenticate(rawToken)
+                claims = self.zuulweb.authenticators.authenticate(rawToken)
             except exceptions.AuthTokenException as e:
                 for header, contents in e.getAdditionalHeaders().items():
                     cherrypy.response.headers[header] = contents
                 cherrypy.response.status = e.HTTPError
                 return '<h1>%s</h1>' % e.error_description
-            # TODO plug an actual authorization mechanism, for now rely on
-            # token content
-            if not is_authorized(uid, tenant, authz):
-                raise cherrypy.HTTPError(403)
+            self.is_authorized(claims, tenant)
+            msg = 'User "%s" requesting "%s" on %s/%s'
             self.log.info(
-                'User "%s" requesting "%s" on %s/%s' % (uid, 'autohold',
-                                                        tenant, project))
+                msg % (claims['__zuul_uid_claim'], 'autohold',
+                       tenant, project))
 
             length = int(cherrypy.request.headers['Content-Length'])
             body = cherrypy.request.body.read(length)
@@ -502,6 +486,21 @@ class ZuulWebAPI(object):
         resp.last_modified = self.zuulweb.start_time
         return ret
 
+    def is_authorized(self, claims, tenant):
+        # First, check for zuul.admin override
+        override = claims.get('zuul', {}).get('admin', [])
+        if (override == '*' or
+            (isinstance(override, list) and tenant in override)):
+            return True
+        # Next, get the rules for tenant
+        data = {'tenant': tenant, 'claims': claims}
+        # TODO: it is probably worth caching
+        job = self.rpc.submitJob('zuul:authorize_user', data)
+        user_authz = json.loads(job.data[0])
+        if not user_authz:
+            raise cherrypy.HTTPError(403)
+        return user_authz
+
     @cherrypy.expose
     @cherrypy.tools.json_out(content_type='application/json; charset=utf-8')
     def tenants(self):
@@ -968,7 +967,6 @@ class ZuulWeb(object):
                  static_path=None,
                  zk_hosts=None,
                  authenticators=None,
-                 authorizations=None,
                  command_socket=None,
                  ):
         self.start_time = time.time()
@@ -988,7 +986,6 @@ class ZuulWeb(object):
             self.zk.connect(hosts=zk_hosts, read_only=True)
         self.connections = connections
         self.authenticators = authenticators
-        self.authorizations = authorizations
         self.stream_manager = StreamManager()
 
         self.command_socket = commandsocket.CommandSocket(command_socket)