diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index b561cb9..6feaeb1 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@
 
 All notable changes to this project are documented in this file.
 
+## [0.0.30] - 2026-09-12
+
+### Changed
+
+- Prohibited dedicated License headings and conventional standalone license-description paragraphs in Swift package READMEs while retaining root license files and standard license badges.
+
 ## [0.0.29] - 2026-09-12
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/Guidelines/Packages.md b/Guidelines/Packages.md
index c5a27d0..55b1b17 100644
--- a/Guidelines/Packages.md
+++ b/Guidelines/Packages.md
@@ -53,7 +53,8 @@ The common package baseline is Swift, Xcode, Platforms, License, and CI. Add opt
 - Use descriptive `alt` text. Preserve a repository's established Xcode badge convention when the label intentionally records the last verified Xcode version.
 - Prefer dynamic Updated and Revision badges backed by repository history or releases so maintainers do not edit dates and versions by hand.
 - Do not advertise a platform, integration, package manager, or agent that the repository does not support.
-- Keep the repository's license in a root `LICENSE` file when reuse or redistribution is permitted. A README license heading is optional; the badge is a summary, not the license grant.
+- Keep the repository's license in a root `LICENSE` file when reuse or redistribution is permitted.
+- Retain the README license badge when the standard badge set applies, but do not add a dedicated License heading or license-description section to a package README. GitHub already presents the repository license beside the README, and the badge provides the summary without duplicating license prose.
 - Do not add a license to an existing repository without the owner's explicit choice of terms.
 
 ## Package boundaries
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index da03cc0..821a309 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ From the consumer repository root, install a tagged release:
 git subtree add \
   --prefix=AgentGuidelines \
   https://github.com/thatfactory/agent-guidelines.git \
-  0.0.29 \
+  0.0.30 \
   --squash
 ```
 
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ Review the target release's changelog, then pull it deliberately:
 git subtree pull \
   --prefix=AgentGuidelines \
   https://github.com/thatfactory/agent-guidelines.git \
-  0.0.29 \
+  0.0.30 \
   --squash
 ```
 
diff --git a/Scripts/validate_consumer_setup.swift b/Scripts/validate_consumer_setup.swift
index cf6a9a5..43f41e3 100755
--- a/Scripts/validate_consumer_setup.swift
+++ b/Scripts/validate_consumer_setup.swift
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@ let strictFormatCommandPattern =
 let mutatingFormatCommandPattern =
     #"(?m)^[ \t]*(?:-\s+)?(?:run:\s*)?(?:\./)?AgentGuidelines/Scripts/swift_format\.sh\s+format(?:-and-lint)?(?=\s|\\|$)"#
 let generatedAttributePattern = #"(?m)^\s*AgentGuidelines/\*\*\s+linguist-generated\s*$"#
+let readmeLicenseHeadingPattern = #"(?im)^[ \t]{0,3}#{1,6}[ \t]+license[ \t]*#*[ \t]*$"#
+let readmeSetextUnderlinePattern = #"^[ \t]{0,3}(?:=+|-+)[ \t]*$"#
+let readmeLicenseParagraphPattern =
+    #"(?i)^.+?\s+is\s+available\s+under\s+the\s+.+?\s+license\.\s+See\s+\[LICENSE\]\((?:\./)?LICENSE\)\.$"#
 
 /// Parsed consumer-validation command-line values.
 struct Arguments {
@@ -167,6 +171,75 @@ func files(in directory: URL, extensions: Set<String>) -> [URL] {
     return values.filter { extensions.contains($0.pathExtension.lowercased()) }.sorted { $0.path < $1.path }
 }
 
+/// Returns a Markdown fence marker and run length when a line can open or close a fenced code block.
+func markdownFence(in line: String) -> (character: Character, length: Int, suffix: Substring)? {
+    let indentation = line.prefix(while: { $0 == " " }).count
+    let content = line.dropFirst(indentation)
+    guard indentation <= 3, let character = content.first, character == "`" || character == "~"
+    else {
+        return nil
+    }
+    let length = content.prefix(while: { $0 == character }).count
+    guard length >= 3 else { return nil }
+    return (character, length, content.dropFirst(length))
+}
+
+/// Returns whether a line is eligible to be the title of a Setext License heading.
+func isSetextLicenseTitle(_ line: String) -> Bool {
+    let indentation = line.prefix(while: { $0 == " " }).count
+    guard indentation <= 3 else { return false }
+    return line.dropFirst(indentation).trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespaces)
+        .localizedCaseInsensitiveCompare("License") == .orderedSame
+}
+
+/// Validates package README license content without inspecting vendored or non-package documentation.
+func validatePackageReadme(consumerRoot: URL, errors: inout [String]) {
+    guard FileManager.default.fileExists(atPath: consumerRoot.appendingPathComponent("Package.swift").path) else {
+        return
+    }
+    let readmeURL = consumerRoot.appendingPathComponent("README.md")
+    guard FileManager.default.fileExists(atPath: readmeURL.path),
+        let contents = readText(readmeURL, errors: &errors, label: "consumer package README")
+    else {
+        return
+    }
+    var outsideFences: [String] = []
+    var activeFence: (character: Character, length: Int)?
+    for line in contents.components(separatedBy: .newlines) {
+        if let currentFence = activeFence {
+            if let marker = markdownFence(in: line), marker.character == currentFence.character,
+                marker.length >= currentFence.length,
+                marker.suffix.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespaces).isEmpty
+            {
+                activeFence = nil
+            }
+            outsideFences.append("")
+        } else if let marker = markdownFence(in: line),
+            marker.character == "~" || !marker.suffix.contains("`")
+        {
+            activeFence = (marker.character, marker.length)
+            outsideFences.append("")
+        } else {
+            outsideFences.append(line)
+        }
+    }
+    let governedContents = outsideFences.joined(separator: "\n")
+    let lines = governedContents.components(separatedBy: .newlines)
+    let hasSetextLicenseHeading = lines.indices.dropLast().contains { index in
+        isSetextLicenseTitle(lines[index]) && !matches(readmeSetextUnderlinePattern, in: lines[index + 1]).isEmpty
+    }
+    if !matches(readmeLicenseHeadingPattern, in: governedContents).isEmpty || hasSetextLicenseHeading {
+        errors.append("consumer package README: README.md must not contain a dedicated License heading")
+    }
+    let paragraphs = governedContents.components(separatedBy: "\n\n").map {
+        $0.split(whereSeparator: \.isNewline).joined(separator: " ")
+            .trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines)
+    }
+    if paragraphs.contains(where: { !matches(readmeLicenseParagraphPattern, in: $0).isEmpty }) {
+        errors.append("consumer package README: README.md must not contain a standalone license-description paragraph")
+    }
+}
+
 /// Validates non-mutating Swift-format CI integration.
 func validateSwiftFormatCI(consumerRoot: URL, errors: inout [String]) {
     let workflowsRoot = consumerRoot.appendingPathComponent(".github/workflows")
@@ -304,6 +377,7 @@ func validateConsumerSetup(
     if swiftFormatAdopted {
         validateSwiftFormatCI(consumerRoot: consumerRoot, errors: &errors)
     }
+    validatePackageReadme(consumerRoot: consumerRoot, errors: &errors)
 }
 
 /// Parses command-line arguments.
diff --git a/Scripts/validate_guidelines.swift b/Scripts/validate_guidelines.swift
index bbbea8d..3139e94 100755
--- a/Scripts/validate_guidelines.swift
+++ b/Scripts/validate_guidelines.swift
@@ -594,6 +594,10 @@ func validateExternalDependencyPolicy(_ errors: inout [String]) {
             "[external dependency policy](Development.md#external-dependencies)": "package dependency policy pointer",
             "must not introduce or conceal a third-party runtime dependency": "first-party package boundary",
             "guideline-mandated tooling dependency": "DocC tooling exception",
+            "root `LICENSE` file": "root license-file retention",
+            "Retain the README license badge": "README license-badge retention",
+            "do not add a dedicated License heading or license-description section":
+                "README license-section prohibition",
         ]
         for (value, description) in required where !contents.contains(value) {
             errors.append("Guidelines/Packages.md: missing \(description): '\(value)'")
diff --git a/Tests/run_tests.swift b/Tests/run_tests.swift
index 21d3eaa..516c7c8 100755
--- a/Tests/run_tests.swift
+++ b/Tests/run_tests.swift
@@ -74,6 +74,47 @@ func initializeRepository(at root: URL) throws {
     try git("config", "user.name", "Agent", in: root)
 }
 
+func createConsumerFixture(at root: URL, isPackage: Bool, readme: String? = nil) throws {
+    try fileManager.createSymbolicLink(
+        at: root.appendingPathComponent("AgentGuidelines"), withDestinationURL: repositoryRoot)
+    try fileManager.copyItem(
+        at: repositoryRoot.appendingPathComponent("Templates/AGENTS.md"),
+        to: root.appendingPathComponent("AGENTS.md"))
+    try write("AgentGuidelines/** linguist-generated\n", to: root.appendingPathComponent(".gitattributes"))
+    let skillParent = root.appendingPathComponent(".agents/skills")
+    try fileManager.createDirectory(at: skillParent, withIntermediateDirectories: true)
+    try fileManager.createSymbolicLink(
+        at: skillParent.appendingPathComponent("agent-guidelines-audit"),
+        withDestinationURL: repositoryRoot.appendingPathComponent(".agents/skills/agent-guidelines-audit")
+    )
+    try fileManager.createSymbolicLink(
+        at: root.appendingPathComponent(".swift-format"),
+        withDestinationURL: repositoryRoot.appendingPathComponent("Configurations/Swift/.swift-format"))
+    try fileManager.createSymbolicLink(
+        at: root.appendingPathComponent(".editorconfig"),
+        withDestinationURL: repositoryRoot.appendingPathComponent("Configurations/Swift/.editorconfig"))
+    try write(
+        """
+        name: CI
+        on:
+          pull_request:
+          push:
+            branches: [main]
+        jobs:
+          swift-format:
+            steps:
+              - run: AgentGuidelines/Scripts/swift_format.sh lint-strict Package.swift Sources Tests
+        """ + "\n",
+        to: root.appendingPathComponent(".github/workflows/ci.yml")
+    )
+    if isPackage {
+        try write("// swift-tools-version: 6.0\n", to: root.appendingPathComponent("Package.swift"))
+    }
+    if let readme {
+        try write(readme, to: root.appendingPathComponent("README.md"))
+    }
+}
+
 func localization(_ value: String, state: String = "translated") -> String {
     #"{"stringUnit":{"state":"\#(state)","value":"\#(value)"}}"#
 }
@@ -469,6 +510,101 @@ let tests: [(String, () throws -> Void)] = [
             }
         }
     ),
+    (
+        "consumer validator rejects package README License headings",
+        {
+            for readme in [
+                "# Package\n\n## License\n", "# Package\n\n#### lIcEnSe ####\n",
+                "# Package\n\nLicense\n-------\n", "# Package\n\nLICENSE\n=======\n",
+            ] {
+                try withTemporaryDirectory { root in
+                    try createConsumerFixture(at: root, isPackage: true, readme: readme)
+                    let result = try run([
+                        script("Scripts/validate_consumer_setup.swift"), "--consumer-root", root.path,
+                    ])
+                    try require(!result.succeeded, "package License heading unexpectedly passed")
+                    try require(result.output.contains("must not contain a dedicated License heading"), result.output)
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    ),
+    (
+        "consumer validator rejects standalone package README license prose",
+        {
+            try withTemporaryDirectory { root in
+                try createConsumerFixture(
+                    at: root,
+                    isPackage: true,
+                    readme: "# Example\n\nExample is available under the MIT license. See [LICENSE](LICENSE).\n"
+                )
+                let result = try run([
+                    script("Scripts/validate_consumer_setup.swift"), "--consumer-root", root.path,
+                ])
+                try require(!result.succeeded, "standalone package license prose unexpectedly passed")
+                try require(
+                    result.output.contains("must not contain a standalone license-description paragraph"),
+                    result.output
+                )
+            }
+        }
+    ),
+    (
+        "consumer validator accepts package license badge and absent README",
+        {
+            try withTemporaryDirectory { root in
+                try createConsumerFixture(
+                    at: root,
+                    isPackage: true,
+                    readme: """
+                        # Example
+
+                        ![License](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-green.svg)
+
+                        See [LICENSE](LICENSE) when verifying redistribution terms.
+
+                        ````markdown
+                        ```markdown
+                        ## License section example
+
+                        Example is available under the MIT license. See [LICENSE](LICENSE).
+                        ```
+                        ````
+
+                        ~~~text
+                        # License
+                        ~~~
+                        """ + "\n"
+                )
+                let result = try run([
+                    script("Scripts/validate_consumer_setup.swift"), "--consumer-root", root.path,
+                ])
+                try require(result.succeeded, result.output)
+            }
+            try withTemporaryDirectory { root in
+                try createConsumerFixture(at: root, isPackage: true)
+                let result = try run([
+                    script("Scripts/validate_consumer_setup.swift"), "--consumer-root", root.path,
+                ])
+                try require(result.succeeded, result.output)
+            }
+        }
+    ),
+    (
+        "consumer validator limits README license policy to package roots",
+        {
+            try withTemporaryDirectory { root in
+                try createConsumerFixture(at: root, isPackage: false, readme: "# App\n\n## License\n")
+                try write(
+                    "# License\n\nStandalone documentation may discuss licensing.\n",
+                    to: root.appendingPathComponent("Documentation/README.md")
+                )
+                let result = try run([
+                    script("Scripts/validate_consumer_setup.swift"), "--consumer-root", root.path,
+                ])
+                try require(result.succeeded, result.output)
+            }
+        }
+    ),
     (
         "consumer validator accepts synchronized integration",
         {
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 369bd4c..f092e2b 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-0.0.29
+0.0.30