diff --git a/src/gpl/README.md b/src/gpl/README.md
index ae76d590bdd..977522dcdb3 100644
--- a/src/gpl/README.md
+++ b/src/gpl/README.md
@@ -79,9 +79,9 @@ global_placement
     [-reference_hpwl reference_hpwl]
     [-overflow overflow]
     [-initial_place_max_iter initial_place_max_iter]
-    [-initial_place_max_fanout initial_place_max_fanout]
     [-pad_left pad_left]
     [-pad_right pad_right]
+    [-fanout_limit fanout_limit]
     [-skip_io]
     [-skip_nesterov_place]
     [-routability_use_grt]
@@ -118,9 +118,9 @@ global_placement
 | `-max_phi_coef` | Set `pcof_max` ($\mu_k$ Upper Bound). Default value is `1.05`. Allowed values are `[1.00-1.20, float]`. |
 | `-overflow` | Set target overflow for termination condition. The default value is `0.1`. Allowed values are floats `[0, 1]`. |
 | `-initial_place_max_iter` | Set maximum iterations in the initial place. The default value is `20`. Allowed values are integers `[0, MAX_INT]`. |
-| `-initial_place_max_fanout` | Set net escape condition in initial place when $fanout \geq initial\_place\_max\_fanout$. The default value is 200. Allowed values are integers `[1, MAX_INT]`. |
 | `-pad_left` | Set left padding in terms of number of sites. The default value is `0`, and the allowed values are integers `[1, MAX_INT]` |
 | `-pad_right` | Set right padding in terms of number of sites. The default value is `0`, and the allowed values are integers `[1, MAX_INT]` |
+| `-fanout_limit` | Set the fanout limit. Nets with higher fanout than this will be ignored during placement. The default value is `200`, and the allowed values are integers `[1, MAX_INT]` |
 | `-skip_io` | Flag to ignore the IO ports when computing wirelength during placement. The default value is False, allowed values are boolean. |
 | `-disable_revert_if_diverge` | Flag to make gpl store the placement state along iterations, if a divergence is detected, gpl reverts to the snapshot state. The default value is disabled. |
 | `-disable_pin_density_adjust` | Flag to disable instance pin density area adjustment. The pin density area adjustment is enabled by default. |
diff --git a/src/gpl/include/gpl/Replace.h b/src/gpl/include/gpl/Replace.h
index aac1a05b4be..e0b23cbf518 100644
--- a/src/gpl/include/gpl/Replace.h
+++ b/src/gpl/include/gpl/Replace.h
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ struct PlaceOptions
   int initialPlaceMaxIter = 20;
   int initialPlaceMinDiffLength = 1500;
   int initialPlaceMaxSolverIter = 100;
-  int initialPlaceMaxFanout = 200;
   float initialPlaceNetWeightScale = 800;
 
   bool skipIoMode = false;
@@ -76,6 +75,8 @@ struct PlaceOptions
   int binGridCntY = 0;
   float density = 0.7;
 
+  int fanoutLimit = 200;
+
   float routabilityCheckOverflow = 0.3;
   float routabilitySnapshotOverflow = 0.6;
   float routabilityMaxDensity = 0.99;
diff --git a/src/gpl/src/initialPlace.cpp b/src/gpl/src/initialPlace.cpp
index 3f91df5c033..6ee4013c014 100644
--- a/src/gpl/src/initialPlace.cpp
+++ b/src/gpl/src/initialPlace.cpp
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ InitialPlaceVars::InitialPlaceVars(const PlaceOptions& options,
     : maxIter(options.initialPlaceMaxIter),
       minDiffLength(options.initialPlaceMinDiffLength),
       maxSolverIter(options.initialPlaceMaxSolverIter),
-      maxFanout(options.initialPlaceMaxFanout),
       netWeightScale(options.initialPlaceNetWeightScale),
       debug(debug),
       forceCenter(options.forceCenterInitialPlace)
@@ -294,14 +293,13 @@ void InitialPlace::createSparseMatrix()
 
   // for each net
   for (auto& net : pbc_->getNets()) {
-    // skip for small nets.
-    if (net->getPins().size() <= 1) {
+    // skip ignored nets
+    if (net->shouldIgnore()) {
       continue;
     }
 
-    // escape long time cals on huge fanout.
-    //
-    if (net->getPins().size() >= ipVars_.maxFanout) {
+    // skip for small nets.
+    if (net->getPins().size() <= 1) {
       continue;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/gpl/src/initialPlace.h b/src/gpl/src/initialPlace.h
index 90b05752fdc..122b29ad271 100644
--- a/src/gpl/src/initialPlace.h
+++ b/src/gpl/src/initialPlace.h
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ struct InitialPlaceVars
   const int maxIter;
   const int minDiffLength;
   const int maxSolverIter;
-  const int maxFanout;
   const float netWeightScale;
   const bool debug;
   const bool forceCenter;
diff --git a/src/gpl/src/nesterovBase.cpp b/src/gpl/src/nesterovBase.cpp
index d5542ca2deb..fa4e76d0272 100644
--- a/src/gpl/src/nesterovBase.cpp
+++ b/src/gpl/src/nesterovBase.cpp
@@ -302,14 +302,22 @@ void GCell::writeAttributesToCSV(std::ostream& out) const
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////
 // GNet
 
-GNet::GNet(Net* net)
+GNet::GNet(Net* net) : GNet(std::vector<Net*>{net})
 {
-  nets_.push_back(net);
 }
 
 GNet::GNet(const std::vector<Net*>& nets)
 {
   nets_ = nets;
+
+  // Check if all nets are set to ignore, if so, mark this GNet as don't care.
+  isDontCare_ = true;
+  for (const auto& net : nets_) {
+    if (!net->shouldIgnore()) {
+      isDontCare_ = false;
+      break;
+    }
+  }
 }
 
 Net* GNet::getPbNet() const
@@ -1307,6 +1315,10 @@ void NesterovBaseCommon::updateWireLengthForceWA(float wlCoeffX, float wlCoeffY)
     gNet->clearWaVars();
     gNet->updateBox();
 
+    if (gNet->isDontCare()) {
+      continue;
+    }
+
     for (auto& gPin : gNet->getGPins()) {
       // The WA terms are shift invariant:
       //
@@ -1416,6 +1428,11 @@ FloatPoint NesterovBaseCommon::getWireLengthGradientWA(const GCell* gCell,
   FloatPoint gradientPair;
 
   for (auto& gPin : gCell->gPins()) {
+    if (gPin->getGNet() == nullptr) {
+      // Can happen for ignored nets due to fanout violation.
+      continue;
+    }
+
     auto tmpPair = getWireLengthGradientPinWA(gPin, wlCoeffX, wlCoeffY);
 
     debugPrint(log_,
@@ -3575,7 +3592,7 @@ size_t NesterovBaseCommon::createCbkGCell(odb::dbInst* db_inst)
 void NesterovBaseCommon::createCbkGNet(odb::dbNet* db_net, bool skip_io_mode)
 {
   debugPrint(log_, GPL, "callbacks", 3, "NBC createGNet");
-  Net gpl_net(db_net, skip_io_mode);
+  Net gpl_net(db_net, skip_io_mode, false);
   pb_nets_stor_.push_back(gpl_net);
   GNet gnet(&pb_nets_stor_.back());
   gNetStor_.push_back(gnet);
@@ -3794,16 +3811,16 @@ void NesterovBase::cutFillerCells(int64_t inflation_area)
   }
 
   log_->info(GPL,
-             76,
-             "Removing fillers, count: Before: {}, After: {} ({:+.2f}%)",
-             num_filler_before_removal,
-             fillerStor_.size(),
+      76,
+      "Removing fillers, count: Before: {}, After: {} ({:+.2f}%)",
+      num_filler_before_removal,
+      fillerStor_.size(),
              (num_filler_before_removal != 0)
                  ? (static_cast<double>(
                         static_cast<int64_t>(fillerStor_.size())
-                        - static_cast<int64_t>(num_filler_before_removal))
-                    / num_filler_before_removal * 100.0)
-                 : 0.0);
+                              - static_cast<int64_t>(num_filler_before_removal))
+          / num_filler_before_removal * 100.0)
+                                       : 0.0);
 
   log_->info(
       GPL,
diff --git a/src/gpl/src/nesterovBase.h b/src/gpl/src/nesterovBase.h
index 4905df2c87f..ab0f52c83ec 100644
--- a/src/gpl/src/nesterovBase.h
+++ b/src/gpl/src/nesterovBase.h
@@ -1360,8 +1360,8 @@ class GCellHandle
 
 inline bool isValidSigType(const odb::dbSigType& db_type)
 {
-  return (db_type == odb::dbSigType::SIGNAL
-          || db_type == odb::dbSigType::CLOCK);
+  return (db_type == odb::dbSigType::SIGNAL || db_type == odb::dbSigType::CLOCK
+          || db_type == odb::dbSigType::RESET);
 }
 
 inline constexpr const char* format_label_int = "{:27} {:10}";
diff --git a/src/gpl/src/placerBase.cpp b/src/gpl/src/placerBase.cpp
index 5032ada7d76..c0caa56c415 100644
--- a/src/gpl/src/placerBase.cpp
+++ b/src/gpl/src/placerBase.cpp
@@ -7,16 +7,21 @@
 #include <climits>
 #include <cmath>
 #include <cstdint>
+#include <limits>
 #include <memory>
 #include <string>
 #include <utility>
 #include <vector>
 
+#include "db_sta/dbNetwork.hh"
+#include "db_sta/dbSta.hh"
 #include "nesterovBase.h"
 #include "odb/db.h"
 #include "odb/dbSet.h"
 #include "odb/dbTransform.h"
 #include "odb/dbTypes.h"
+#include "sta/MinMax.hh"
+#include "sta/Scene.hh"
 #include "utl/Logger.h"
 
 namespace gpl {
@@ -553,9 +558,10 @@ Pin::~Pin()
 
 Net::Net() = default;
 
-Net::Net(odb::dbNet* net, bool skipIoMode) : Net()
+Net::Net(odb::dbNet* net, bool skipIoMode, bool ignore_net) : Net()
 {
   net_ = net;
+  ignore_net_ = ignore_net;
   updateBox(skipIoMode);
 }
 
@@ -724,7 +730,8 @@ int64_t Die::coreArea() const
 }
 
 PlacerBaseVars::PlacerBaseVars(const PlaceOptions& options)
-    : padLeft(options.padLeft),
+    : fanoutLimit(options.fanoutLimit),
+      padLeft(options.padLeft),
       padRight(options.padRight),
       skipIoMode(options.skipIoMode),
       disablePinDensityAdjust(options.disablePinDensityAdjust)
@@ -735,11 +742,13 @@ PlacerBaseVars::PlacerBaseVars(const PlaceOptions& options)
 // PlacerBaseCommon
 
 PlacerBaseCommon::PlacerBaseCommon(odb::dbDatabase* db,
+                                   sta::dbSta* sta,
                                    PlacerBaseVars pbVars,
                                    utl::Logger* log)
     : pbVars_(pbVars)
 {
   db_ = db;
+  sta_ = sta;
   log_ = log;
   init();
 }
@@ -924,12 +933,74 @@ void PlacerBaseCommon::init()
   // nets fill
   dbSet<dbNet> db_nets = block->getNets();
   netStor_.reserve(db_nets.size());
+
+  // Only check fanout if network is linked and liberty is available
+  const bool enable_sta_fanout_check
+      = (sta_->network() != nullptr && sta_->network()->isLinked()
+         && sta_->network()->defaultLibertyLibrary() != nullptr);
+
+  if (enable_sta_fanout_check) {
+    sta_->checkFanoutPreamble();
+  }
+
   for (dbNet* db_net : db_nets) {
     dbSigType net_type = db_net->getSigType();
 
-    // escape nets with VDD/VSS/reset nets
-    if (net_type == dbSigType::SIGNAL || net_type == dbSigType::CLOCK) {
-      Net temp_net(db_net, pbVars_.skipIoMode);
+    // escape nets with VDD/VSS nets
+    if (net_type == dbSigType::SIGNAL || net_type == dbSigType::CLOCK
+        || net_type == dbSigType::RESET) {
+      // Check fanout of the net.
+      const float simple_fanout
+          = (db_net->getITerms().size() + db_net->getBTerms().size()) - 1.0f;
+      // A net with no fanout is ignored
+      bool ignore_net = simple_fanout <= 0;
+      if (!ignore_net) {
+        // Do a simple fanout check first
+        // This also catches block pin fanout
+        float fanout_limit = pbVars_.fanoutLimit;
+        float fanout_slack = fanout_limit - simple_fanout;
+        if (enable_sta_fanout_check && fanout_slack > 0.0) {
+          for (dbITerm* iTerm : db_net->getITerms()) {
+            if (iTerm->isOutputSignal(true)) {
+              sta::Pin* sta_pin = sta_->getDbNetwork()->dbToSta(iTerm);
+              if (sta_pin == nullptr) {
+                log_->warn(GPL,
+                           88,
+                           "Unable to find STA pin for {}.",
+                           iTerm->getName());
+              }
+
+              for (sta::Mode* mode : sta_->modes()) {
+                float pin_fanout = 0.0;
+                float pin_fanout_slack = 0.0;
+                float pin_fanout_limit = 0.0;
+                sta_->checkFanout(sta_pin,
+                                  mode,
+                                  sta::MinMax::max(),
+                                  pin_fanout,
+                                  pin_fanout_limit,
+                                  pin_fanout_slack);
+
+                fanout_slack = std::min(fanout_slack, pin_fanout_slack);
+                fanout_limit = std::min(fanout_limit, pin_fanout_limit);
+              }
+            }
+          }
+        }
+        if (fanout_slack < 0.0) {
+          log_->warn(GPL,
+                     93,
+                     "Net {} will be ignored during placement because it has "
+                     "high fanout {} (fanout slack: {}, fanout limit: {}).",
+                     db_net->getName(),
+                     simple_fanout,
+                     fanout_slack,
+                     fanout_limit);
+          ignore_net = true;
+        }
+      }
+
+      Net temp_net(db_net, pbVars_.skipIoMode, ignore_net);
       netStor_.push_back(temp_net);
 
       // this is safe because of "reserve"
diff --git a/src/gpl/src/placerBase.h b/src/gpl/src/placerBase.h
index e177ae3ef55..152c22691cb 100644
--- a/src/gpl/src/placerBase.h
+++ b/src/gpl/src/placerBase.h
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ class Rect;
 class Point;
 
 }  // namespace odb
+namespace sta {
+class dbSta;
+}
 
 namespace utl {
 class Logger;
@@ -195,7 +198,7 @@ class Net
 {
  public:
   Net();
-  Net(odb::dbNet* net, bool skipIoMode);
+  Net(odb::dbNet* net, bool skipIoMode, bool ignore_net);
   ~Net();
 
   int lx() const;
@@ -205,6 +208,8 @@ class Net
   int cx() const;
   int cy() const;
 
+  bool shouldIgnore() const { return ignore_net_; }
+
   // HPWL: half-parameter-wire-length
   int64_t getHpwl() const;
 
@@ -224,6 +229,7 @@ class Net
   int ly_ = 0;
   int ux_ = 0;
   int uy_ = 0;
+  bool ignore_net_ = false;
 };
 
 class Die
@@ -273,6 +279,7 @@ struct PlacerBaseVars
 {
   PlacerBaseVars(const PlaceOptions& options);
 
+  const int fanoutLimit;
   const int padLeft;
   const int padRight;
   const bool skipIoMode;
@@ -285,6 +292,7 @@ class PlacerBaseCommon
  public:
   // temp padLeft/Right before OpenDB supporting...
   PlacerBaseCommon(odb::dbDatabase* db,
+                   sta::dbSta* sta,
                    PlacerBaseVars pbVars,
                    utl::Logger* log);
   ~PlacerBaseCommon();
@@ -320,6 +328,7 @@ class PlacerBaseCommon
 
  private:
   odb::dbDatabase* db_ = nullptr;
+  sta::dbSta* sta_ = nullptr;
   utl::Logger* log_ = nullptr;
 
   PlacerBaseVars pbVars_;
diff --git a/src/gpl/src/replace.cpp b/src/gpl/src/replace.cpp
index 597d9b3df36..c46dd0780ca 100644
--- a/src/gpl/src/replace.cpp
+++ b/src/gpl/src/replace.cpp
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ void Replace::doIncrementalPlace(const int threads, const PlaceOptions& options)
   bool is_pbc_new = (pbc_ == nullptr);
 
   if (is_pbc_new) {
-    pbc_ = std::make_shared<PlacerBaseCommon>(db_, options, log_);
+    pbc_ = std::make_shared<PlacerBaseCommon>(db_, sta_, options, log_);
   }
 
   // Count placed vs unplaced, and conditionally lock them down
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ void Replace::doInitialPlace(const int threads, const PlaceOptions& options)
 {
   checkHasCoreRows();
   if (pbc_ == nullptr) {
-    pbc_ = std::make_shared<PlacerBaseCommon>(db_, options, log_);
+    pbc_ = std::make_shared<PlacerBaseCommon>(db_, sta_, options, log_);
 
     pbVec_.push_back(std::make_shared<PlacerBase>(db_, pbc_, log_, true));
 
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ bool Replace::initNesterovPlace(const PlaceOptions& options,
                                 bool check_density)
 {
   if (!pbc_) {
-    pbc_ = std::make_shared<PlacerBaseCommon>(db_, options, log_);
+    pbc_ = std::make_shared<PlacerBaseCommon>(db_, sta_, options, log_);
 
     pbVec_.push_back(
         std::make_shared<PlacerBase>(db_, pbc_, log_, check_density));
@@ -390,9 +390,8 @@ void PlaceOptions::validate(utl::Logger* logger)
 {
   utl::Validator val(logger, GPL);
   val.check_non_negative("initialPlaceMaxIter", initialPlaceMaxIter, 326);
-  val.check_positive("initialPlaceMaxFanout", initialPlaceMaxFanout, 327);
-  val.check_positive("initialPlaceMaxFanout", initialPlaceMaxFanout, 327);
   val.check_range("Target density", density, 0.0f, 1.0f, 328);
+  val.check_positive("fanoutLimit", fanoutLimit, 329);
 }
 
 void PlaceOptions::skipIo()
diff --git a/src/gpl/src/replace.i b/src/gpl/src/replace.i
index 6ec876a454b..7995d5abffb 100644
--- a/src/gpl/src/replace.i
+++ b/src/gpl/src/replace.i
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ static gpl::PlaceOptions getOptions(
     options.initialPlaceMaxIter = 0;
   });
   checkKey(keys, "-initial_place_max_iter", options.initialPlaceMaxIter);
-  checkKey(keys, "-initial_place_max_fanout", options.initialPlaceMaxFanout);
   checkKey(
       keys, "-routability_check_overflow", options.routabilityCheckOverflow);
   checkKey(
@@ -73,6 +72,7 @@ static gpl::PlaceOptions getOptions(
   checkKey(keys, "-init_density_penalty", options.initDensityPenaltyFactor);
   checkKey(keys, "-init_wirelength_coef", options.initWireLengthCoef);
   checkKey(keys, "-reference_hpwl", options.referenceHpwl);
+  checkKey(keys, "-fanout_limit", options.fanoutLimit);
 
   if (auto it = keys.find("-density"); it != keys.end()) {
     if (it->second == "uniform") {
diff --git a/src/gpl/src/replace.tcl b/src/gpl/src/replace.tcl
index cb4f0be5375..5bf7424ef7e 100644
--- a/src/gpl/src/replace.tcl
+++ b/src/gpl/src/replace.tcl
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ sta::define_cmd_args "global_placement" {\
     [-reference_hpwl reference_hpwl]\
     [-overflow overflow]\
     [-initial_place_max_iter initial_place_max_iter]\
-    [-initial_place_max_fanout initial_place_max_fanout]\
     [-routability_use_grt]\
     [-routability_target_rc_metric routability_target_rc_metric]\
     [-routability_check_overflow routability_check_overflow]\
@@ -35,6 +34,7 @@ sta::define_cmd_args "global_placement" {\
     [-timing_driven_nets_percentage timing_driven_nets_percentage]\
     [-pad_left pad_left]\
     [-pad_right pad_right]\
+    [-fanout_limit fanout_limit]\
     [-disable_revert_if_diverge]\
     [-disable_pin_density_adjust]\
     [-enable_routing_congestion]
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ proc global_placement { args } {
       -init_density_penalty -init_wirelength_coef \
       -min_phi_coef -max_phi_coef -overflow \
       -reference_hpwl \
-      -initial_place_max_iter -initial_place_max_fanout \
+      -initial_place_max_iter \
       -routability_check_overflow -routability_snapshot_overflow \
       -routability_max_density \
       -routability_target_rc_metric \
@@ -57,7 +57,8 @@ proc global_placement { args } {
       -timing_driven_net_weight_max \
       -timing_driven_nets_percentage \
       -keep_resize_below_overflow \
-      -pad_left -pad_right} \
+      -pad_left -pad_right \
+      -fanout_limit} \
     flags {-skip_initial_place \
       -force_center_initial_place \
       -skip_nesterov_place \