diff --git a/docs/configuration/data-validation.md b/docs/configuration/data-validation.md
index 9ff71758f..1b8263de3 100644
--- a/docs/configuration/data-validation.md
+++ b/docs/configuration/data-validation.md
@@ -87,3 +87,24 @@ The following colors are supported:
 * `gray`
 * `black`
 * `white`
+
+---
+
+## PROTECTION_RULES
+
+!!! tip "Dynamic Configuration Parameter"
+
+This is a mapping of models to [custom validators](../customization/custom-validation.md) against which an object is evaluated immediately prior to its deletion. If validation fails, the object is not deleted. An example is provided below:
+
+```python
+PROTECTION_RULES = {
+    "dcim.site": [
+        {
+            "status": {
+                "eq": "decommissioning"
+            }
+        },
+        "my_plugin.validators.Validator1",
+    ]
+}
+```
diff --git a/docs/customization/custom-validation.md b/docs/customization/custom-validation.md
index 30198117f..79aa82bc9 100644
--- a/docs/customization/custom-validation.md
+++ b/docs/customization/custom-validation.md
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ The `CustomValidator` class supports several validation types:
 * `regex`: Application of a [regular expression](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regular_expression)
 * `required`: A value must be specified
 * `prohibited`: A value must _not_ be specified
+* `eq`: A value must be equal to the specified value
+* `neq`: A value must _not_ be equal to the specified value
 
 The `min` and `max` types should be defined for numeric values, whereas `min_length`, `max_length`, and `regex` are suitable for character strings (text values). The `required` and `prohibited` validators may be used for any field, and should be passed a value of `True`.
 
diff --git a/netbox/extras/forms/model_forms.py b/netbox/extras/forms/model_forms.py
index 83a346420..fd2ce8f2d 100644
--- a/netbox/extras/forms/model_forms.py
+++ b/netbox/extras/forms/model_forms.py
@@ -491,7 +491,7 @@ class ConfigRevisionForm(BootstrapMixin, forms.ModelForm, metaclass=ConfigFormMe
         (_('Security'), ('ALLOWED_URL_SCHEMES',)),
         (_('Banners'), ('BANNER_LOGIN', 'BANNER_MAINTENANCE', 'BANNER_TOP', 'BANNER_BOTTOM')),
         (_('Pagination'), ('PAGINATE_COUNT', 'MAX_PAGE_SIZE')),
-        (_('Validation'), ('CUSTOM_VALIDATORS',)),
+        (_('Validation'), ('CUSTOM_VALIDATORS', 'PROTECTION_RULES')),
         (_('User Preferences'), ('DEFAULT_USER_PREFERENCES',)),
         (_('Miscellaneous'), (
             'MAINTENANCE_MODE', 'GRAPHQL_ENABLED', 'CHANGELOG_RETENTION', 'JOB_RETENTION', 'MAPS_URL',
@@ -508,6 +508,7 @@ class ConfigRevisionForm(BootstrapMixin, forms.ModelForm, metaclass=ConfigFormMe
             'BANNER_TOP': forms.Textarea(attrs={'class': 'font-monospace'}),
             'BANNER_BOTTOM': forms.Textarea(attrs={'class': 'font-monospace'}),
             'CUSTOM_VALIDATORS': forms.Textarea(attrs={'class': 'font-monospace'}),
+            'PROTECTION_RULES': forms.Textarea(attrs={'class': 'font-monospace'}),
             'comment': forms.Textarea(),
         }
 
diff --git a/netbox/extras/signals.py b/netbox/extras/signals.py
index d6550309f..8bdaf523c 100644
--- a/netbox/extras/signals.py
+++ b/netbox/extras/signals.py
@@ -2,8 +2,10 @@ import importlib
 import logging
 
 from django.contrib.contenttypes.models import ContentType
+from django.core.exceptions import ValidationError
 from django.db.models.signals import m2m_changed, post_save, pre_delete
 from django.dispatch import receiver, Signal
+from django.utils.translation import gettext_lazy as _
 from django_prometheus.models import model_deletes, model_inserts, model_updates
 
 from extras.validators import CustomValidator
@@ -178,11 +180,7 @@ m2m_changed.connect(handle_cf_removed_obj_types, sender=CustomField.content_type
 # Custom validation
 #
 
-@receiver(post_clean)
-def run_custom_validators(sender, instance, **kwargs):
-    config = get_config()
-    model_name = f'{sender._meta.app_label}.{sender._meta.model_name}'
-    validators = config.CUSTOM_VALIDATORS.get(model_name, [])
+def run_validators(instance, validators):
 
     for validator in validators:
 
@@ -198,6 +196,29 @@ def run_custom_validators(sender, instance, **kwargs):
         validator(instance)
 
 
+@receiver(post_clean)
+def run_save_validators(sender, instance, **kwargs):
+    model_name = f'{sender._meta.app_label}.{sender._meta.model_name}'
+    validators = get_config().CUSTOM_VALIDATORS.get(model_name, [])
+
+    run_validators(instance, validators)
+
+
+@receiver(pre_delete)
+def run_delete_validators(sender, instance, **kwargs):
+    model_name = f'{sender._meta.app_label}.{sender._meta.model_name}'
+    validators = get_config().PROTECTION_RULES.get(model_name, [])
+
+    try:
+        run_validators(instance, validators)
+    except ValidationError as e:
+        raise AbortRequest(
+            _("Deletion is prevented by a protection rule: {message}").format(
+                message=e
+            )
+        )
+
+
 #
 # Dynamic configuration
 #
diff --git a/netbox/extras/tests/test_customvalidator.py b/netbox/extras/tests/test_customvalidation.py
similarity index 64%
rename from netbox/extras/tests/test_customvalidator.py
rename to netbox/extras/tests/test_customvalidation.py
index 0fe507b67..d74ad599b 100644
--- a/netbox/extras/tests/test_customvalidator.py
+++ b/netbox/extras/tests/test_customvalidation.py
@@ -1,10 +1,13 @@
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.core.exceptions import ValidationError
+from django.db import transaction
 from django.test import TestCase, override_settings
 
 from ipam.models import ASN, RIR
+from dcim.choices import SiteStatusChoices
 from dcim.models import Site
 from extras.validators import CustomValidator
+from utilities.exceptions import AbortRequest
 
 
 class MyValidator(CustomValidator):
@@ -14,6 +17,20 @@ class MyValidator(CustomValidator):
             self.fail("Name must be foo!")
 
 
+eq_validator = CustomValidator({
+    'asn': {
+        'eq': 100
+    }
+})
+
+
+neq_validator = CustomValidator({
+    'asn': {
+        'neq': 100
+    }
+})
+
+
 min_validator = CustomValidator({
     'asn': {
         'min': 65000
@@ -77,6 +94,18 @@ class CustomValidatorTest(TestCase):
         validator = settings.CUSTOM_VALIDATORS['ipam.asn'][0]
         self.assertIsInstance(validator, CustomValidator)
 
+    @override_settings(CUSTOM_VALIDATORS={'ipam.asn': [eq_validator]})
+    def test_eq(self):
+        ASN(asn=100, rir=RIR.objects.first()).clean()
+        with self.assertRaises(ValidationError):
+            ASN(asn=99, rir=RIR.objects.first()).clean()
+
+    @override_settings(CUSTOM_VALIDATORS={'ipam.asn': [neq_validator]})
+    def test_neq(self):
+        ASN(asn=99, rir=RIR.objects.first()).clean()
+        with self.assertRaises(ValidationError):
+            ASN(asn=100, rir=RIR.objects.first()).clean()
+
     @override_settings(CUSTOM_VALIDATORS={'ipam.asn': [min_validator]})
     def test_min(self):
         with self.assertRaises(ValidationError):
@@ -147,7 +176,7 @@ class CustomValidatorConfigTest(TestCase):
     @override_settings(
         CUSTOM_VALIDATORS={
             'dcim.site': (
-                'extras.tests.test_customvalidator.MyValidator',
+                'extras.tests.test_customvalidation.MyValidator',
             )
         }
     )
@@ -159,3 +188,62 @@ class CustomValidatorConfigTest(TestCase):
         Site(name='foo', slug='foo').clean()
         with self.assertRaises(ValidationError):
             Site(name='bar', slug='bar').clean()
+
+
+class ProtectionRulesConfigTest(TestCase):
+
+    @override_settings(
+        PROTECTION_RULES={
+            'dcim.site': [
+                {'status': {'eq': SiteStatusChoices.STATUS_DECOMMISSIONING}}
+            ]
+        }
+    )
+    def test_plain_data(self):
+        """
+        Test custom validator configuration using plain data (as opposed to a CustomValidator
+        class)
+        """
+        # Create a site with a protected status
+        site = Site(name='Site 1', slug='site-1', status=SiteStatusChoices.STATUS_ACTIVE)
+        site.save()
+
+        # Try to delete it
+        with self.assertRaises(AbortRequest):
+            with transaction.atomic():
+                site.delete()
+
+        # Change its status to an allowed value
+        site.status = SiteStatusChoices.STATUS_DECOMMISSIONING
+        site.save()
+
+        # Deletion should now succeed
+        site.delete()
+
+    @override_settings(
+        PROTECTION_RULES={
+            'dcim.site': (
+                'extras.tests.test_customvalidation.MyValidator',
+            )
+        }
+    )
+    def test_dotted_path(self):
+        """
+        Test custom validator configuration using a dotted path (string) reference to a
+        CustomValidator class.
+        """
+        # Create a site with a protected name
+        site = Site(name='bar', slug='bar')
+        site.save()
+
+        # Try to delete it
+        with self.assertRaises(AbortRequest):
+            with transaction.atomic():
+                site.delete()
+
+        # Change the name to an allowed value
+        site.name = site.slug = 'foo'
+        site.save()
+
+        # Deletion should now succeed
+        site.delete()
diff --git a/netbox/extras/validators.py b/netbox/extras/validators.py
index 686c9b032..98b4fd88d 100644
--- a/netbox/extras/validators.py
+++ b/netbox/extras/validators.py
@@ -1,15 +1,38 @@
-from django.core.exceptions import ValidationError
 from django.core import validators
+from django.core.exceptions import ValidationError
+from django.utils.translation import gettext_lazy as _
 
 # NOTE: As this module may be imported by configuration.py, we cannot import
 # anything from NetBox itself.
 
 
+class IsEqualValidator(validators.BaseValidator):
+    """
+    Employed by CustomValidator to require a specific value.
+    """
+    message = _("Ensure this value is equal to %(limit_value)s.")
+    code = "is_equal"
+
+    def compare(self, a, b):
+        return a != b
+
+
+class IsNotEqualValidator(validators.BaseValidator):
+    """
+    Employed by CustomValidator to exclude a specific value.
+    """
+    message = _("Ensure this value does not equal %(limit_value)s.")
+    code = "is_not_equal"
+
+    def compare(self, a, b):
+        return a == b
+
+
 class IsEmptyValidator:
     """
     Employed by CustomValidator to enforce required fields.
     """
-    message = "This field must be empty."
+    message = _("This field must be empty.")
     code = 'is_empty'
 
     def __init__(self, enforce=True):
@@ -24,7 +47,7 @@ class IsNotEmptyValidator:
     """
     Employed by CustomValidator to enforce prohibited fields.
     """
-    message = "This field must not be empty."
+    message = _("This field must not be empty.")
     code = 'not_empty'
 
     def __init__(self, enforce=True):
@@ -50,6 +73,8 @@ class CustomValidator:
     :param validation_rules: A dictionary mapping object attributes to validation rules
     """
     VALIDATORS = {
+        'eq': IsEqualValidator,
+        'neq': IsNotEqualValidator,
         'min': validators.MinValueValidator,
         'max': validators.MaxValueValidator,
         'min_length': validators.MinLengthValidator,
diff --git a/netbox/netbox/config/parameters.py b/netbox/netbox/config/parameters.py
index 31c4f693a..0cdf8a8d2 100644
--- a/netbox/netbox/config/parameters.py
+++ b/netbox/netbox/config/parameters.py
@@ -152,9 +152,17 @@ PARAMS = (
         description=_("Custom validation rules (JSON)"),
         field=forms.JSONField,
         field_kwargs={
-            'widget': forms.Textarea(
-                attrs={'class': 'vLargeTextField'}
-            ),
+            'widget': forms.Textarea(),
+        },
+    ),
+    ConfigParam(
+        name='PROTECTION_RULES',
+        label=_('Protection rules'),
+        default={},
+        description=_("Deletion protection rules (JSON)"),
+        field=forms.JSONField,
+        field_kwargs={
+            'widget': forms.Textarea(),
         },
     ),
 
diff --git a/netbox/templates/extras/configrevision.html b/netbox/templates/extras/configrevision.html
index 4f2abf30b..a880865c3 100644
--- a/netbox/templates/extras/configrevision.html
+++ b/netbox/templates/extras/configrevision.html
@@ -151,6 +151,10 @@
               <th scope="row">{% trans "Custom validators" %}</th>
               <td>{{ object.data.CUSTOM_VALIDATORS|placeholder }}</td>
             </tr>
+            <tr>
+              <th scope="row">{% trans "Protection rules" %}</th>
+              <td>{{ object.data.PROTECTION_RULES|placeholder }}</td>
+            </tr>
           </table>
         </div>
       </div>