diff --git a/scripts/pr-gate/config.ts b/scripts/pr-gate/config.ts
index 3779dabb9..b92e52515 100644
--- a/scripts/pr-gate/config.ts
+++ b/scripts/pr-gate/config.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,6 @@
 export const REPO = { owner: "openfrontio", repo: "OpenFrontIO" } as const;
 
-export const TRUSTED_AUTHOR_ASSOCIATIONS = [
-  "OWNER",
-  "MEMBER",
-  "COLLABORATOR",
-] as const;
+export const TRUSTED_REPO_PERMISSIONS = ["admin", "maintain", "write"] as const;
 
 export const SMALL_FIX_LINE_THRESHOLD = 50;
 
diff --git a/scripts/pr-gate/github.ts b/scripts/pr-gate/github.ts
index 3d589b603..79adf55f8 100644
--- a/scripts/pr-gate/github.ts
+++ b/scripts/pr-gate/github.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ export async function getPR(
     number: data.number,
     body: data.body ?? null,
     user: { login: data.user?.login ?? "" },
-    author_association: data.author_association,
     labels: (data.labels ?? [])
       .map((l) => l.name ?? "")
       .filter((name) => name.length > 0),
@@ -37,6 +36,22 @@ export async function getPRFiles(
   return files.map((f) => ({ additions: f.additions, deletions: f.deletions }));
 }
 
+export async function getRepoPermission(
+  octokit: Octokit,
+  username: string,
+): Promise<string> {
+  try {
+    const { data } = await octokit.rest.repos.getCollaboratorPermissionLevel({
+      ...REPO,
+      username,
+    });
+    return data.permission;
+  } catch (err) {
+    if (isStatus(err, 404)) return "none";
+    throw err;
+  }
+}
+
 export async function getIssue(
   octokit: Octokit,
   issueNumber: number,
diff --git a/scripts/pr-gate/index.ts b/scripts/pr-gate/index.ts
index 981c61939..234cbd00c 100644
--- a/scripts/pr-gate/index.ts
+++ b/scripts/pr-gate/index.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import {
   getIssue,
   getPR,
   getPRFiles,
+  getRepoPermission,
   makeOctokit,
   postComment,
 } from "./github";
@@ -57,7 +58,12 @@ async function main(): Promise<void> {
   const pr = await getPR(octokit, prNumber);
   const files = await getPRFiles(octokit, prNumber);
 
-  const decision = await evaluate(pr, files, (n) => getIssue(octokit, n));
+  const decision = await evaluate(
+    pr,
+    files,
+    (n) => getIssue(octokit, n),
+    (u) => getRepoPermission(octokit, u),
+  );
 
   const prefix = `[pr-gate] PR #${prNumber}`;
   if (decision.action === "pass") {
diff --git a/scripts/pr-gate/rules.ts b/scripts/pr-gate/rules.ts
index 229c73934..7c5385c60 100644
--- a/scripts/pr-gate/rules.ts
+++ b/scripts/pr-gate/rules.ts
@@ -2,17 +2,18 @@ import {
   APPROVED_ISSUE_LABEL,
   LABELS,
   SMALL_FIX_LINE_THRESHOLD,
-  TRUSTED_AUTHOR_ASSOCIATIONS,
+  TRUSTED_REPO_PERMISSIONS,
 } from "./config";
 
 export type PRMetadata = {
   number: number;
   body: string | null;
   user: { login: string };
-  author_association: string;
   labels: string[];
 };
 
+export type GetRepoPermission = (username: string) => Promise<string>;
+
 export type PRFile = {
   additions: number;
   deletions: number;
@@ -53,13 +54,16 @@ export function checkBypass(pr: PRMetadata): RuleResult {
   return { action: "next" };
 }
 
-export function checkOrgMember(pr: PRMetadata): RuleResult {
-  if (
-    (TRUSTED_AUTHOR_ASSOCIATIONS as readonly string[]).includes(
-      pr.author_association,
-    )
-  ) {
-    return { action: "pass", reason: `Author is ${pr.author_association}` };
+export async function checkRepoAccess(
+  pr: PRMetadata,
+  getRepoPermission: GetRepoPermission,
+): Promise<RuleResult> {
+  const permission = await getRepoPermission(pr.user.login);
+  if ((TRUSTED_REPO_PERMISSIONS as readonly string[]).includes(permission)) {
+    return {
+      action: "pass",
+      reason: `Author has "${permission}" permission on the repo`,
+    };
   }
   return { action: "next" };
 }
@@ -104,11 +108,12 @@ export async function evaluate(
   pr: PRMetadata,
   files: PRFile[],
   getIssue: GetIssue,
+  getRepoPermission: GetRepoPermission,
 ): Promise<RuleResult> {
   const r0 = checkBypass(pr);
   if (r0.action !== "next") return r0;
 
-  const r1 = checkOrgMember(pr);
+  const r1 = await checkRepoAccess(pr, getRepoPermission);
   if (r1.action !== "next") return r1;
 
   const r2 = await checkApprovedWork(pr, getIssue);