diff --git a/docs/issue_tracking_and_labels.md b/docs/issue_tracking_and_labels.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4c4d60bfa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/issue_tracking_and_labels.md
@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+# GitHub issue tracking and labels
+
+Describes how to use labels and modifiers when tracking work items in the GitHub page.
+
+## Assignees
+
+No labels for this section - just use the alias of the individuals owning the issue.
+
+## Labels
+
+All tags and labels are lower-case and dash separated.
+
+|      Status      |           Area           | Issue Type  | Priority |
+| ---------------- | ------------------------ | ----------- | -------- |
+| investigating    | area-common              | question    | pri-0    |
+| needs-more-info  | areas-communication      | enhancement |          |
+| understood       | area-data-structures     | code-defect |          |
+| in-design        | area-developer           | test-defect |          |
+| in-progress      | area-diagnostics         | doc-only    |          |
+| external         | area-documentation       |             |          |
+| release-note-na  | area-engineering         |             |          |
+| release-note-req | area-federation          |             |          |
+| duplicate        | area-hosting             |             |          |
+|                  | area-ktl                 |             |          |
+|                  | area-linux               |             |          |
+|                  | area-management          |             |          |
+|                  | area-operations          |             |          |
+|                  | area-reliability         |             |          |
+|                  | area-security            |             |          |
+|                  | area-setup               |             |          |
+|                  | area-sfrp                |             |          |
+|                  | area-standaloneinstaller |             |          |
+|                  | area-store               |             |          |
+|                  | area-testinfra           |             |          |
+|                  | area-testability         |             |          |
+|                  | area-transport           |             |          |
+|                  | area-needs-triage        |             |          |
+|                  | area-try-service-fabric  |             |          |
+|                  | area-windows-server      |             |          |
+|                  |                          |             |          |
+
+For more information about the definition of each label, take a look at the
+[labels page](https://github.com/Microsoft/service-fabric/labels) on GitHub.
+
+There are no strict rules about using labels, apply labels when appropriate
+according to each label's definition. Generally labels fall into one of 4
+categories
+
+**Status**: Indicates the work status or issue status, including if the issue
+has been seen by a developer, been investigated, or needs more attention. It
+can also be used to indicate an outcome of an issue
+
+**Area**: Indicates the impacted component. These are modules and feature
+areas of Service Fabric.
+
+**Issue Type**: Indicates what type of work is required to resolve the issue.
+Defects require code changes, questions or doc changes can be resolved without
+changing production code.
+
+**Priority**: Indicates how soon an issue will get attention. Avoid adding
+any priory labels unless there is a strong justification.
+
+## Milestones
+
+Releases are defined by milestones, these are usually denoted by a sequence of
+two digits and a possible post-release fix identifier. Examples of this are:
+
+- 6.3
+- 6.4 CU1
+
+In this case 6.4 CU1 refers to the 6.4 cumulative update 1. This would
+succeed the 6.4 release in the case there were fixes to that released version.
+
+If no milestone is added, the item is considered to be on the backlog
+
+## Example label transitions
+
+Issues are reported with no labels, and no assignees. Issues then typically
+follow this cycle:
+
+### When an issue arrives
+
+- Add an area, if not certain, add `needs-triage`
+- Add an issue type, if not certain, ignore
+
+### When starting working on an issue
+
+- Add an assignee, whoever is actively working on the issue
+- Update issue status according how far along the investigation is
+- Adjust area if it needs adjusting
+- If the issue needs to be transferred to a new area, be sure to remove the current assignee first
+
+### When closing issues
+
+- Make sure the area and type are set correctly
+
+### Assigning issues
+
+Issues should only be assigned to individuals if they are actively being
+worked on by that individual. Otherwise, issues remain unassigned. This way it
+is obvious who is responsible for the work.
+
+## Goals and Responsibilities
+
+In general, GitHub is not meant to replace live support. If you have an issue
+that requires immediate attention please use [Azure Support](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/support/options/).
+
+### Contributors
+
+If you are an active contributor and own a section of the code, it is expected
+that issues assigned to you are actively being worked on.
+
+Responses should take less than 48 hours.
+
+### Area lead
+
+If you are responsible for an area, it is expected you triage all issues assigned
+to that area, and validate they are closed correctly.
+
+Triaging issues involves setting correct labels and milestones, as well as driving
+to closure.