diff --git a/cmd/bd/lint.go b/cmd/bd/lint.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fecc428c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/bd/lint.go
@@ -0,0 +1,227 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/rpc"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/types"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/validation"
+)
+
+// LintResult holds the validation result for a single issue.
+type LintResult struct {
+	ID       string   `json:"id"`
+	Title    string   `json:"title"`
+	Type     string   `json:"type"`
+	Missing  []string `json:"missing,omitempty"`
+	Warnings int      `json:"warnings"`
+}
+
+var lintCmd = &cobra.Command{
+	Use:     "lint [issue-id...]",
+	GroupID: "views",
+	Short:   "Check issues for missing template sections",
+	Long: `Check issues for missing recommended sections based on issue type.
+
+By default, lints all open issues. Specify issue IDs to lint specific issues.
+
+Section requirements by type:
+  bug:      Steps to Reproduce, Acceptance Criteria
+  task:     Acceptance Criteria
+  feature:  Acceptance Criteria
+  epic:     Success Criteria
+  chore:    (none)
+
+Examples:
+  bd lint                    # Lint all open issues
+  bd lint bd-abc             # Lint specific issue
+  bd lint bd-abc bd-def      # Lint multiple issues
+  bd lint --type bug         # Lint only bugs
+  bd lint --status all       # Lint all issues (including closed)
+`,
+	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+		ctx := rootCtx
+
+		typeFilter, _ := cmd.Flags().GetString("type")
+		statusFilter, _ := cmd.Flags().GetString("status")
+
+		var issues []*types.Issue
+
+		// Use daemon if available, otherwise direct mode
+		if daemonClient != nil {
+			if len(args) > 0 {
+				// Get specific issues via show
+				for _, id := range args {
+					showArgs := &rpc.ShowArgs{ID: id}
+					resp, err := daemonClient.Show(showArgs)
+					if err != nil {
+						fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error getting %s: %v\n", id, err)
+						continue
+					}
+					var details types.IssueDetails
+					if err := json.Unmarshal(resp.Data, &details); err != nil {
+						fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error parsing %s: %v\n", id, err)
+						continue
+					}
+					issues = append(issues, &details.Issue)
+				}
+			} else {
+				// List issues via daemon
+				listArgs := &rpc.ListArgs{
+					Limit: 1000, // reasonable limit
+				}
+
+				// Default to open issues unless --status specified
+				if statusFilter == "" || statusFilter == "open" {
+					listArgs.Status = "open"
+				} else if statusFilter != "all" {
+					listArgs.Status = statusFilter
+				}
+
+				if typeFilter != "" {
+					listArgs.IssueType = typeFilter
+				}
+
+				resp, err := daemonClient.List(listArgs)
+				if err != nil {
+					fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error: %v\n", err)
+					os.Exit(1)
+				}
+
+				var issuesWithCounts []*types.IssueWithCounts
+				if err := json.Unmarshal(resp.Data, &issuesWithCounts); err != nil {
+					fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error parsing response: %v\n", err)
+					os.Exit(1)
+				}
+
+				for _, iwc := range issuesWithCounts {
+					issues = append(issues, iwc.Issue)
+				}
+			}
+		} else {
+			// Direct mode
+			if err := ensureDatabaseFresh(ctx); err != nil {
+				fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error: %v\n", err)
+				os.Exit(1)
+			}
+
+			if store == nil {
+				fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "Error: database not initialized")
+				os.Exit(1)
+			}
+
+			if len(args) > 0 {
+				// Lint specific issues
+				for _, id := range args {
+					issue, err := store.GetIssue(ctx, id)
+					if err != nil {
+						fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error getting %s: %v\n", id, err)
+						continue
+					}
+					if issue == nil {
+						fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Issue not found: %s\n", id)
+						continue
+					}
+					issues = append(issues, issue)
+				}
+			} else {
+				// Lint all matching issues
+				filter := types.IssueFilter{}
+
+				// Default to open issues unless --status specified
+				if statusFilter == "" || statusFilter == "open" {
+					s := types.StatusOpen
+					filter.Status = &s
+				} else if statusFilter != "all" {
+					s := types.Status(statusFilter)
+					filter.Status = &s
+				}
+
+				if typeFilter != "" {
+					t := types.IssueType(typeFilter)
+					filter.IssueType = &t
+				}
+
+				var err error
+				issues, err = store.SearchIssues(ctx, "", filter)
+				if err != nil {
+					fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error: %v\n", err)
+					os.Exit(1)
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
+		var results []LintResult
+		totalWarnings := 0
+
+		for _, issue := range issues {
+			err := validation.LintIssue(issue)
+			if err == nil {
+				continue // No warnings for this issue
+			}
+
+			templateErr, ok := err.(*validation.TemplateError)
+			if !ok {
+				continue
+			}
+
+			missing := make([]string, len(templateErr.Missing))
+			for i, m := range templateErr.Missing {
+				missing[i] = m.Heading
+			}
+
+			result := LintResult{
+				ID:       issue.ID,
+				Title:    issue.Title,
+				Type:     string(issue.IssueType),
+				Missing:  missing,
+				Warnings: len(missing),
+			}
+			results = append(results, result)
+			totalWarnings += len(missing)
+		}
+
+		if jsonOutput {
+			output := struct {
+				Total   int          `json:"total"`
+				Issues  int          `json:"issues"`
+				Results []LintResult `json:"results"`
+			}{
+				Total:   totalWarnings,
+				Issues:  len(results),
+				Results: results,
+			}
+			data, _ := json.MarshalIndent(output, "", "  ")
+			fmt.Println(string(data))
+			return
+		}
+
+		// Human-readable output
+		if len(results) == 0 {
+			fmt.Printf("✓ No template warnings found (%d issues checked)\n", len(issues))
+			return
+		}
+
+		fmt.Printf("Template warnings (%d issues, %d warnings):\n\n", len(results), totalWarnings)
+		for _, r := range results {
+			fmt.Printf("%s [%s]: %s\n", r.ID, r.Type, r.Title)
+			for _, m := range r.Missing {
+				fmt.Printf("  ⚠ Missing: %s\n", m)
+			}
+			fmt.Println()
+		}
+
+		// Exit with error code if warnings found (useful for CI)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	},
+}
+
+func init() {
+	lintCmd.Flags().StringP("type", "t", "", "Filter by issue type (bug, task, feature, epic)")
+	lintCmd.Flags().StringP("status", "s", "", "Filter by status (default: open, use 'all' for all)")
+
+	rootCmd.AddCommand(lintCmd)
+}