diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a4afc29..30ee3da 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@ The formatter GitHub App is not on the main-branch bypass list.
 
 ## What's in here
 
+### Renovate preset
+
+`default.json` is the file loaded by `local>Sea-Haven-Industries/.github`. It is intentionally empty of policy. Org Renovate rules live in `Sea-Haven-Industries/renovate-config` as `org-inherited-config.json`.
+
 ### Reusable Workflows
 
 **`.github/workflows/ci-python-sam.yaml`** — Reusable CI workflow for Python / SAM repos. Runs `ruff check` + `ruff format --check`, optional `pytest`, and optional `sam validate --lint`. Also usable for Python CDK repos by disabling SAM validate.
diff --git a/default.json b/default.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7190a60
--- /dev/null
+++ b/default.json
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+{
+  "$schema": "https://docs.renovatebot.com/renovate-schema.json"
+}