diff --git a/.github/CODEOWNERS b/.github/CODEOWNERS
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1b5c56f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/CODEOWNERS
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+# CODEOWNERS: https://help.github.com/articles/about-codeowners/
+
+# Primary repo maintainers
+*       @alessio @alexanderbez @rigelrozanski @jackzampolin
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug-report.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug-report.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d6d9c6fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug-report.md
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+---
+name: Bug Report 
+about: Create a report to help us squash bugs!
+
+---
+
+<!-- < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < ☺ 
+v                            ✰  Thanks for opening an issue! ✰    
+v    Before smashing the submit button please review the template.
+v    Please also ensure that this is not a duplicate issue :)  
+☺ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >  -->
+
+## Summary of Bug
+
+<!-- Concisely describe the issue -->
+
+## Version
+
+<!-- git commit hash, output of `gaiacli --version`, output of `gaiad --version` -->
+
+## Steps to Reproduce
+
+<!-- What commands in order should someone run to reproduce your problem -->
+
+____
+
+#### For Admin Use
+
+- [ ] Not duplicate issue
+- [ ] Appropriate labels applied
+- [ ] Appropriate contributors tagged
+- [ ] Contributor assigned/self-assigned
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/feature-request.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/feature-request.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9488ffe1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/feature-request.md
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+---
+name: Feature Request
+about: Create a proposal to request a feature
+
+---
+
+<!-- < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < ☺ 
+v                            ✰  Thanks for opening an issue! ✰    
+v    Before smashing the submit button please review the template.
+v    Word of caution: poorly thought-out proposals may be rejected 
+v                     without deliberation 
+☺ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >  -->
+
+## Summary
+
+<!-- Short, concise description of the proposed feature -->
+
+## Problem Definition
+
+<!-- Why do we need this feature? 
+What problems may be addressed by introducing this feature?
+What benefits does gaia stand to gain by including this feature?
+Are there any disadvantages of including this feature? -->
+
+## Proposal
+
+<!-- Detailed description of requirements of implementation -->
+
+____
+
+#### For Admin Use
+
+- [ ] Not duplicate issue
+- [ ] Appropriate labels applied
+- [ ] Appropriate contributors tagged
+- [ ] Contributor assigned/self-assigned
diff --git a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..162c7274
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+<!-- < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < ☺
+v                               ✰  Thanks for creating a PR! ✰    
+v    Before smashing the submit button please review the checkboxes.
+v    If a checkbox is n/a - please still include it but + a little note why
+☺ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >  -->
+
+- Targeted PR against correct branch (see [CONTRIBUTING.md](https://github.com/cosmos/gaia/blob/develop/CONTRIBUTING.md#pr-targeting))
+
+- [ ] Linked to github-issue with discussion and accepted design OR link to spec that describes this work.
+- [ ] Wrote tests
+- [ ] Updated relevant documentation (`docs/`)
+- [ ] Added a relevant changelog entry: `clog add [section] [stanza] [message]`
+- [ ] Reviewed `Files changed` in the github PR explorer
+
+______
+
+For Admin Use:
+- Added appropriate labels to PR (ex. wip, ready-for-review, docs)
+- Reviewers Assigned
+- Squashed all commits, uses message "Merge PR #XYZ: [title]" ([coding standards](https://github.com/tendermint/coding/blob/master/README.md#merging-a-pr))