diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c18125c..51eb723 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -259,6 +259,7 @@ Helio works with any MCP-compatible agent or framework:
 - **[Getting Started](./docs/getting-started.md)**: Install and configure in 5 minutes
 - **[Configuration Reference](./docs/configuration.md)**: Every YAML option explained
 - **[Policy Guide](./docs/policies.md)**: How to write rules with examples
+- **[Policy Recipes](./docs/policy-recipes.md)**: Copy-paste snippets for common governance policies
 - **[Approval Workflows](./docs/approvals.md)**: Slack, webhook, and dashboard approvals
 - **[Audit Trail](./docs/audit.md)**: What's recorded, how to search, how to export
 
diff --git a/docs/policy-recipes.md b/docs/policy-recipes.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3f4b2c9
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+++ b/docs/policy-recipes.md
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+# Policy Recipes
+
+Copy these snippets into `helio.yaml` as starting points for common governance policies. Keep specific rules before broad fallback rules because Helio evaluates policy rules in order.
+
+## Auto-Allow Read-Only Tools
+
+Use this when your MCP servers set `readOnlyHint: true` on tools that only fetch or summarize data. Pair it with `default: deny` so unknown tools fail closed until they are reviewed.
+
+```yaml
+policies:
+  default: deny
+  rules:
+    - name: allow-read-only-tools
+      match:
+        annotations:
+          readOnlyHint: true
+      action: allow
+```
+
+> MCP defaults `readOnlyHint` to `false`, so upstream tools must explicitly opt in before this rule matches.
+
+## Route Destructive Tools to Approval
+
+Use this when destructive actions should wait for a human through the dashboard, Slack, or webhook approval flow. Any approval flow also needs `dashboard.api_secret` so approvers or callback systems can resolve tickets through the sideband API.
+
+```yaml
+dashboard:
+  enabled: true
+  api_secret: '${HELIO_DASHBOARD_SECRET}'
+
+policies:
+  default: allow
+  flag_destructive: require_approval
+  rules:
+    - name: approve-destructive-tools
+      match:
+        annotations:
+          destructiveHint: true
+      action: require_approval
+      approval:
+        channel: dashboard
+        timeout: '10m'
+```
+
+> MCP defaults `destructiveHint` to `true`, so set `destructiveHint: false` on safe upstream tools to avoid unnecessary approvals.
+
+## Set a Session Spend Cap
+
+Use this to cap cumulative tool spend per MCP session. The budget is consumed only by calls that pass the spend check and are forwarded upstream.
+
+```yaml
+policies:
+  default: allow
+  rules:
+    - name: cap-session-payments
+      match:
+        tool: 'create_payment'
+      action: spend_limit
+      limits:
+        max_spend:
+          field: '$.amount'
+          limit: 500
+          currency: USD
+          window: '1h'
+          key: session
+      feedback:
+        message: 'Session payment budget exceeded.'
+        suggestion: 'Wait for the budget window to reset or request human approval.'
+```
+
+## Require Evidence Before a Refund
+
+Use this when a refund should only proceed after the agent has looked up the relevant order in the same session.
+
+```yaml
+policies:
+  default: allow
+  rules:
+    - name: require-order-lookup-before-refund
+      match:
+        tool: 'process_refund'
+      action: allow
+      evidence:
+        requires:
+          - order_lookup
+```
+
+The Python SDK can mark the evidence after the lookup succeeds:
+
+```python
+from helio import HelioContext
+
+with HelioContext() as ctx:
+    order = orders.lookup(order_id)
+    ctx.mark_evidence('order_lookup', 'order_data', order)
+```
+
+If the agent calls `process_refund` without fresh `order_lookup` evidence, Helio blocks the call with self-repair feedback telling the agent what evidence to gather before retrying.