diff --git a/internal/types/types.go b/internal/types/types.go
index bba71af1..496044b9 100644
--- a/internal/types/types.go
+++ b/internal/types/types.go
@@ -420,6 +420,37 @@ func (t IssueType) IsValid() bool {
 	return false
 }
 
+// RequiredSection describes a recommended section for an issue type.
+// Used by bd lint and bd create --validate for template validation.
+type RequiredSection struct {
+	Heading string // Markdown heading, e.g., "## Steps to Reproduce"
+	Hint    string // Guidance for what to include
+}
+
+// RequiredSections returns the recommended sections for this issue type.
+// Returns nil for types with no specific section requirements.
+func (t IssueType) RequiredSections() []RequiredSection {
+	switch t {
+	case TypeBug:
+		return []RequiredSection{
+			{Heading: "## Steps to Reproduce", Hint: "Describe how to reproduce the bug"},
+			{Heading: "## Acceptance Criteria", Hint: "Define criteria to verify the fix"},
+		}
+	case TypeTask, TypeFeature:
+		return []RequiredSection{
+			{Heading: "## Acceptance Criteria", Hint: "Define criteria to verify completion"},
+		}
+	case TypeEpic:
+		return []RequiredSection{
+			{Heading: "## Success Criteria", Hint: "Define high-level success criteria"},
+		}
+	default:
+		// Chore, message, molecule, gate, agent, role, convoy, event, merge-request
+		// have no required sections
+		return nil
+	}
+}
+
 // AgentState represents the self-reported state of an agent
 type AgentState string
 
diff --git a/internal/types/types_test.go b/internal/types/types_test.go
index 2f2be8da..1f3895bb 100644
--- a/internal/types/types_test.go
+++ b/internal/types/types_test.go
@@ -414,6 +414,42 @@ func TestIssueTypeIsValid(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestIssueTypeRequiredSections(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		issueType     IssueType
+		expectCount   int
+		expectHeading string // First heading if any
+	}{
+		{TypeBug, 2, "## Steps to Reproduce"},
+		{TypeFeature, 1, "## Acceptance Criteria"},
+		{TypeTask, 1, "## Acceptance Criteria"},
+		{TypeEpic, 1, "## Success Criteria"},
+		{TypeChore, 0, ""},
+		{TypeMessage, 0, ""},
+		{TypeMolecule, 0, ""},
+		{TypeGate, 0, ""},
+		{TypeAgent, 0, ""},
+		{TypeRole, 0, ""},
+		{TypeConvoy, 0, ""},
+		{TypeEvent, 0, ""},
+		{TypeMergeRequest, 0, ""},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(string(tt.issueType), func(t *testing.T) {
+			sections := tt.issueType.RequiredSections()
+			if len(sections) != tt.expectCount {
+				t.Errorf("IssueType(%q).RequiredSections() returned %d sections, want %d",
+					tt.issueType, len(sections), tt.expectCount)
+			}
+			if tt.expectCount > 0 && sections[0].Heading != tt.expectHeading {
+				t.Errorf("IssueType(%q).RequiredSections()[0].Heading = %q, want %q",
+					tt.issueType, sections[0].Heading, tt.expectHeading)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestAgentStateIsValid(t *testing.T) {
 	cases := []struct {
 		name  string