diff --git a/internal/config/loader.go b/internal/config/loader.go
index 3813860d..bc590906 100644
--- a/internal/config/loader.go
+++ b/internal/config/loader.go
@@ -565,3 +565,111 @@ func expandPath(path string) string {
 	}
 	return path
 }
+
+// LoadMessagingConfig loads and validates a messaging configuration file.
+func LoadMessagingConfig(path string) (*MessagingConfig, error) {
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", ErrNotFound, path)
+		}
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("reading messaging config: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	var config MessagingConfig
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &config); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("parsing messaging config: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	if err := validateMessagingConfig(&config); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	return &config, nil
+}
+
+// SaveMessagingConfig saves a messaging configuration to a file.
+func SaveMessagingConfig(path string, config *MessagingConfig) error {
+	if err := validateMessagingConfig(config); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(path), 0755); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("creating directory: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	data, err := json.MarshalIndent(config, "", "  ")
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("encoding messaging config: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	if err := os.WriteFile(path, data, 0644); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("writing messaging config: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// validateMessagingConfig validates a MessagingConfig.
+func validateMessagingConfig(c *MessagingConfig) error {
+	if c.Version > CurrentMessagingVersion {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%w: got %d, max supported %d", ErrInvalidVersion, c.Version, CurrentMessagingVersion)
+	}
+
+	// Initialize nil maps
+	if c.Lists == nil {
+		c.Lists = make(map[string][]string)
+	}
+	if c.Queues == nil {
+		c.Queues = make(map[string]QueueConfig)
+	}
+	if c.Announces == nil {
+		c.Announces = make(map[string]AnnounceConfig)
+	}
+
+	// Validate lists have at least one recipient
+	for name, recipients := range c.Lists {
+		if len(recipients) == 0 {
+			return fmt.Errorf("%w: list '%s' has no recipients", ErrMissingField, name)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Validate queues have at least one worker
+	for name, queue := range c.Queues {
+		if len(queue.Workers) == 0 {
+			return fmt.Errorf("%w: queue '%s' has no workers", ErrMissingField, name)
+		}
+		if queue.MaxClaims < 0 {
+			return fmt.Errorf("queue '%s': max_claims must be non-negative", name)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Validate announces have at least one reader
+	for name, announce := range c.Announces {
+		if len(announce.Readers) == 0 {
+			return fmt.Errorf("%w: announce '%s' has no readers", ErrMissingField, name)
+		}
+		if announce.RetainCount < 0 {
+			return fmt.Errorf("announce '%s': retain_count must be non-negative", name)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// MessagingConfigPath returns the standard path for messaging config in a town.
+func MessagingConfigPath(townRoot string) string {
+	return filepath.Join(townRoot, "config", "messaging.json")
+}
+
+// LoadOrCreateMessagingConfig loads the messaging config, creating a default if not found.
+func LoadOrCreateMessagingConfig(path string) (*MessagingConfig, error) {
+	config, err := LoadMessagingConfig(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		if errors.Is(err, ErrNotFound) {
+			return NewMessagingConfig(), nil
+		}
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return config, nil
+}
diff --git a/internal/config/loader_test.go b/internal/config/loader_test.go
index 8d52d5fd..4388b306 100644
--- a/internal/config/loader_test.go
+++ b/internal/config/loader_test.go
@@ -549,3 +549,186 @@ func TestLoadAccountsConfigNotFound(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal("expected error for nonexistent file")
 	}
 }
+
+func TestMessagingConfigRoundTrip(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	path := filepath.Join(dir, "config", "messaging.json")
+
+	original := NewMessagingConfig()
+	original.Lists["oncall"] = []string{"mayor/", "gastown/witness"}
+	original.Lists["cleanup"] = []string{"gastown/witness", "deacon/"}
+	original.Queues["work/gastown"] = QueueConfig{
+		Workers:   []string{"gastown/polecats/*"},
+		MaxClaims: 5,
+	}
+	original.Announces["alerts"] = AnnounceConfig{
+		Readers:     []string{"@town"},
+		RetainCount: 100,
+	}
+
+	if err := SaveMessagingConfig(path, original); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("SaveMessagingConfig: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	loaded, err := LoadMessagingConfig(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("LoadMessagingConfig: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	if loaded.Version != CurrentMessagingVersion {
+		t.Errorf("Version = %d, want %d", loaded.Version, CurrentMessagingVersion)
+	}
+
+	// Check lists
+	if len(loaded.Lists) != 2 {
+		t.Errorf("Lists count = %d, want 2", len(loaded.Lists))
+	}
+	if oncall, ok := loaded.Lists["oncall"]; !ok || len(oncall) != 2 {
+		t.Error("oncall list not preserved")
+	}
+
+	// Check queues
+	if len(loaded.Queues) != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("Queues count = %d, want 1", len(loaded.Queues))
+	}
+	if q, ok := loaded.Queues["work/gastown"]; !ok || q.MaxClaims != 5 {
+		t.Error("queue not preserved")
+	}
+
+	// Check announces
+	if len(loaded.Announces) != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("Announces count = %d, want 1", len(loaded.Announces))
+	}
+	if a, ok := loaded.Announces["alerts"]; !ok || a.RetainCount != 100 {
+		t.Error("announce not preserved")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestMessagingConfigValidation(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		config  *MessagingConfig
+		wantErr bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name:    "valid empty config",
+			config:  NewMessagingConfig(),
+			wantErr: false,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "valid config with lists",
+			config: &MessagingConfig{
+				Version: 1,
+				Lists: map[string][]string{
+					"oncall": {"mayor/", "gastown/witness"},
+				},
+			},
+			wantErr: false,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "list with no recipients",
+			config: &MessagingConfig{
+				Version: 1,
+				Lists: map[string][]string{
+					"empty": {},
+				},
+			},
+			wantErr: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "queue with no workers",
+			config: &MessagingConfig{
+				Version: 1,
+				Queues: map[string]QueueConfig{
+					"work": {Workers: []string{}},
+				},
+			},
+			wantErr: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "queue with negative max_claims",
+			config: &MessagingConfig{
+				Version: 1,
+				Queues: map[string]QueueConfig{
+					"work": {Workers: []string{"worker/"}, MaxClaims: -1},
+				},
+			},
+			wantErr: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "announce with no readers",
+			config: &MessagingConfig{
+				Version: 1,
+				Announces: map[string]AnnounceConfig{
+					"alerts": {Readers: []string{}},
+				},
+			},
+			wantErr: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "announce with negative retain_count",
+			config: &MessagingConfig{
+				Version: 1,
+				Announces: map[string]AnnounceConfig{
+					"alerts": {Readers: []string{"@town"}, RetainCount: -1},
+				},
+			},
+			wantErr: true,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			err := validateMessagingConfig(tt.config)
+			if (err != nil) != tt.wantErr {
+				t.Errorf("validateMessagingConfig() error = %v, wantErr %v", err, tt.wantErr)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadMessagingConfigNotFound(t *testing.T) {
+	_, err := LoadMessagingConfig("/nonexistent/path.json")
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected error for nonexistent file")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadOrCreateMessagingConfig(t *testing.T) {
+	// Test creating default when not found
+	config, err := LoadOrCreateMessagingConfig("/nonexistent/path.json")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("LoadOrCreateMessagingConfig: %v", err)
+	}
+	if config == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected non-nil config")
+	}
+	if config.Version != CurrentMessagingVersion {
+		t.Errorf("Version = %d, want %d", config.Version, CurrentMessagingVersion)
+	}
+
+	// Test loading existing
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	path := filepath.Join(dir, "messaging.json")
+	original := NewMessagingConfig()
+	original.Lists["test"] = []string{"mayor/"}
+	if err := SaveMessagingConfig(path, original); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("SaveMessagingConfig: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	loaded, err := LoadOrCreateMessagingConfig(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("LoadOrCreateMessagingConfig: %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, ok := loaded.Lists["test"]; !ok {
+		t.Error("existing config not loaded")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestMessagingConfigPath(t *testing.T) {
+	path := MessagingConfigPath("/home/user/gt")
+	expected := "/home/user/gt/config/messaging.json"
+	if path != expected {
+		t.Errorf("MessagingConfigPath = %q, want %q", path, expected)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/config/types.go b/internal/config/types.go
index b160f391..b2740b66 100644
--- a/internal/config/types.go
+++ b/internal/config/types.go
@@ -254,3 +254,57 @@ func DefaultAccountsConfigDir() string {
 	home, _ := os.UserHomeDir()
 	return home + "/.claude-accounts"
 }
+
+// MessagingConfig represents the messaging configuration (config/messaging.json).
+// This defines mailing lists, work queues, and announcement channels.
+type MessagingConfig struct {
+	Version int `json:"version"` // schema version
+
+	// Lists are static mailing lists. Messages are fanned out to all recipients.
+	// Each recipient gets their own copy of the message.
+	// Example: {"oncall": ["mayor/", "gastown/witness"]}
+	Lists map[string][]string `json:"lists,omitempty"`
+
+	// Queues are shared work queues. Only one copy exists; workers claim messages.
+	// Messages sit in the queue until explicitly claimed by a worker.
+	// Example: {"work/gastown": ["gastown/polecats/*"]}
+	Queues map[string]QueueConfig `json:"queues,omitempty"`
+
+	// Announces are bulletin boards. One copy exists; anyone can read, no claiming.
+	// Used for broadcast announcements that don't need acknowledgment.
+	// Example: {"alerts": {"readers": ["@town"]}}
+	Announces map[string]AnnounceConfig `json:"announces,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// QueueConfig represents a work queue configuration.
+type QueueConfig struct {
+	// Workers lists addresses eligible to claim from this queue.
+	// Supports wildcards: "gastown/polecats/*" matches all polecats in gastown.
+	Workers []string `json:"workers"`
+
+	// MaxClaims is the maximum number of concurrent claims (0 = unlimited).
+	MaxClaims int `json:"max_claims,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// AnnounceConfig represents a bulletin board configuration.
+type AnnounceConfig struct {
+	// Readers lists addresses eligible to read from this announce channel.
+	// Supports @group syntax: "@town", "@rig/gastown", "@witnesses".
+	Readers []string `json:"readers"`
+
+	// RetainCount is the number of messages to retain (0 = unlimited).
+	RetainCount int `json:"retain_count,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// CurrentMessagingVersion is the current schema version for MessagingConfig.
+const CurrentMessagingVersion = 1
+
+// NewMessagingConfig creates a new MessagingConfig with defaults.
+func NewMessagingConfig() *MessagingConfig {
+	return &MessagingConfig{
+		Version:   CurrentMessagingVersion,
+		Lists:     make(map[string][]string),
+		Queues:    make(map[string]QueueConfig),
+		Announces: make(map[string]AnnounceConfig),
+	}
+}