diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/backend/EnableImplicitApprovals.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/backend/EnableImplicitApprovals.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bcad5e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/backend/EnableImplicitApprovals.java
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+// Copyright (C) 2021 The Android Open Source Project
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+// http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package com.google.gerrit.plugins.codeowners.backend;
+
+/** Enum to control whether implicit code-owner approvals by the patch set uploader are enabled. */
+public enum EnableImplicitApprovals {
+  /** Implicit code-owner approvals of the the patch set uploader are disabled. */
+  FALSE,
+
+  /**
+   * Implicit code-owner approvals of the patch set uploader are enabled, but only if the configured
+   * required label allows self approvals.
+   */
+  TRUE,
+
+  /**
+   * Implicit code-owner approvals of the patch set uploader are enabled, even if the configured
+   * required label disallows self approvals.
+   */
+  FORCED;
+}
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/backend/config/CodeOwnersPluginConfiguration.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/backend/config/CodeOwnersPluginConfiguration.java
index 4b70846..cc62a94 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/backend/config/CodeOwnersPluginConfiguration.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/backend/config/CodeOwnersPluginConfiguration.java
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 import com.google.gerrit.extensions.restapi.MethodNotAllowedException;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.codeowners.backend.CodeOwnerBackend;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.codeowners.backend.CodeOwnerReference;
+import com.google.gerrit.plugins.codeowners.backend.EnableImplicitApprovals;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.codeowners.backend.FallbackCodeOwners;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.codeowners.common.CodeOwnerConfigValidationPolicy;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.codeowners.common.MergeCommitStrategy;
@@ -213,15 +214,30 @@
    */
   public boolean areImplicitApprovalsEnabled(Project.NameKey project) {
     requireNonNull(project, "project");
-    LabelType requiredLabel = getRequiredApproval(project).labelType();
-    if (requiredLabel.isIgnoreSelfApproval()) {
-      logger.atFine().log(
-          "ignoring implicit approval configuration on project %s since the label of the required"
-              + " approval (%s) is configured to ignore self approvals",
-          project, requiredLabel);
-      return false;
+    EnableImplicitApprovals enableImplicitApprovals =
+        generalConfig.getEnableImplicitApprovals(project, getPluginConfig(project));
+    switch (enableImplicitApprovals) {
+      case FALSE:
+        logger.atFine().log("implicit approvals on project %s are disabled", project);
+        return false;
+      case TRUE:
+        LabelType requiredLabel = getRequiredApproval(project).labelType();
+        if (requiredLabel.isIgnoreSelfApproval()) {
+          logger.atFine().log(
+              "ignoring implicit approval configuration on project %s since the label of the required"
+                  + " approval (%s) is configured to ignore self approvals",
+              project, requiredLabel);
+          return false;
+        }
+        return true;
+      case FORCED:
+        logger.atFine().log("implicit approvals on project %s are enforced", project);
+        return true;
     }
-    return generalConfig.getEnableImplicitApprovals(getPluginConfig(project));
+    throw new IllegalStateException(
+        String.format(
+            "unknown value %s for enableImplicitApprovals configuration in project %s",
+            enableImplicitApprovals, project));
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/backend/config/GeneralConfig.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/backend/config/GeneralConfig.java
index 3e5538c..187a7ab 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/backend/config/GeneralConfig.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/backend/config/GeneralConfig.java
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 import com.google.gerrit.entities.Project;
 import com.google.gerrit.extensions.annotations.PluginName;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.codeowners.backend.CodeOwnerReference;
+import com.google.gerrit.plugins.codeowners.backend.EnableImplicitApprovals;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.codeowners.backend.FallbackCodeOwners;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.codeowners.common.CodeOwnerConfigValidationPolicy;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.codeowners.common.MergeCommitStrategy;
@@ -463,17 +464,44 @@
    * Gets whether an implicit code owner approval from the last uploader is assumed from the given
    * plugin config with fallback to {@code gerrit.config}.
    *
+   * @param project the name of the project for which the configuration should be read
    * @param pluginConfig the plugin config from which the configuration should be read.
    * @return whether an implicit code owner approval from the last uploader is assumed
    */
-  boolean getEnableImplicitApprovals(Config pluginConfig) {
+  EnableImplicitApprovals getEnableImplicitApprovals(Project.NameKey project, Config pluginConfig) {
+    requireNonNull(project, "project");
     requireNonNull(pluginConfig, "pluginConfig");
 
-    return pluginConfig.getBoolean(
-        SECTION_CODE_OWNERS,
-        null,
-        KEY_ENABLE_IMPLICIT_APPROVALS,
-        pluginConfigFromGerritConfig.getBoolean(KEY_ENABLE_IMPLICIT_APPROVALS, false));
+    String enableImplicitApprovalsString =
+        pluginConfig.getString(SECTION_CODE_OWNERS, null, KEY_ENABLE_IMPLICIT_APPROVALS);
+    if (enableImplicitApprovalsString != null) {
+      try {
+        return pluginConfig.getEnum(
+            SECTION_CODE_OWNERS,
+            null,
+            KEY_ENABLE_IMPLICIT_APPROVALS,
+            EnableImplicitApprovals.FALSE);
+      } catch (IllegalArgumentException e) {
+        logger.atWarning().withCause(e).log(
+            "Ignoring invalid value %s for enabling implicit approvals in '%s.config' of project"
+                + " %s. Falling back to global config or default value.",
+            enableImplicitApprovalsString, pluginName, project.get());
+      }
+    }
+
+    try {
+      return pluginConfigFromGerritConfig.getEnum(
+          KEY_ENABLE_IMPLICIT_APPROVALS, EnableImplicitApprovals.FALSE);
+    } catch (IllegalArgumentException e) {
+      logger.atWarning().withCause(e).log(
+          "Ignoring invalid value %s for enabling implict approvals in gerrit.config (parameter"
+              + " plugin.%s.%s). Falling back to default value %s.",
+          pluginConfigFromGerritConfig.getString(KEY_ENABLE_IMPLICIT_APPROVALS),
+          pluginName,
+          KEY_ENABLE_IMPLICIT_APPROVALS,
+          EnableImplicitApprovals.FALSE);
+      return EnableImplicitApprovals.FALSE;
+    }
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/backend/CodeOwnerApprovalCheckWithSelfApprovalsIgnoredTest.java b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/backend/CodeOwnerApprovalCheckWithSelfApprovalsIgnoredTest.java
index 3195389..3112b07 100644
--- a/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/backend/CodeOwnerApprovalCheckWithSelfApprovalsIgnoredTest.java
+++ b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/backend/CodeOwnerApprovalCheckWithSelfApprovalsIgnoredTest.java
@@ -273,6 +273,65 @@
   }
 
   @Test
+  @GerritConfig(name = "plugin.code-owners.enableImplicitApprovals", value = "forced")
+  public void implicitlyApprovedByUploaderWhoIsChangeOwner() throws Exception {
+    TestAccount codeOwner =
+        accountCreator.create(
+            "codeOwner", "codeOwner@example.com", "CodeOwner", /* displayName= */ null);
+    setAsRootCodeOwners(codeOwner);
+
+    Path path = Paths.get("/foo/bar.baz");
+    String changeId =
+        createChange(codeOwner, "Change Adding A File", JgitPath.of(path).get(), "file content")
+            .getChangeId();
+
+    // Verify that the file is approved.
+    Stream<FileCodeOwnerStatus> fileCodeOwnerStatuses =
+        codeOwnerApprovalCheck.getFileStatuses(getChangeNotes(changeId));
+    FileCodeOwnerStatusSubject fileCodeOwnerStatusSubject =
+        assertThatStream(fileCodeOwnerStatuses).onlyElement();
+    fileCodeOwnerStatusSubject.hasNewPathStatus().value().hasPathThat().isEqualTo(path);
+    fileCodeOwnerStatusSubject
+        .hasNewPathStatus()
+        .value()
+        .hasStatusThat()
+        .isEqualTo(CodeOwnerStatus.APPROVED);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  @GerritConfig(name = "plugin.code-owners.enableImplicitApprovals", value = "forced")
+  public void implicitlyApprovedByUploader() throws Exception {
+    TestAccount changeOwner =
+        accountCreator.create(
+            "changeOwner", "changeOwner@example.com", "ChangeOwner", /* displayName= */ null);
+
+    TestAccount codeOwner =
+        accountCreator.create(
+            "codeOwner", "codeOwner@example.com", "CodeOwner", /* displayName= */ null);
+    setAsRootCodeOwners(codeOwner);
+
+    Path path = Paths.get("/foo/bar.baz");
+    String changeId =
+        createChange(changeOwner, "Change Adding A File", JgitPath.of(path).get(), "file content")
+            .getChangeId();
+
+    // Upload another patch set by a code owner.
+    amendChange(codeOwner, changeId);
+
+    // Verify that the file is approved.
+    Stream<FileCodeOwnerStatus> fileCodeOwnerStatuses =
+        codeOwnerApprovalCheck.getFileStatuses(getChangeNotes(changeId));
+    FileCodeOwnerStatusSubject fileCodeOwnerStatusSubject =
+        assertThatStream(fileCodeOwnerStatuses).onlyElement();
+    fileCodeOwnerStatusSubject.hasNewPathStatus().value().hasPathThat().isEqualTo(path);
+    fileCodeOwnerStatusSubject
+        .hasNewPathStatus()
+        .value()
+        .hasStatusThat()
+        .isEqualTo(CodeOwnerStatus.APPROVED);
+  }
+
+  @Test
   public void notOverriddenByUploaderWhoIsChangeOwner() throws Exception {
     TestAccount changeOwner =
         accountCreator.create(
diff --git a/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/backend/config/GeneralConfigTest.java b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/backend/config/GeneralConfigTest.java
index 5a78e50..159ce96 100644
--- a/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/backend/config/GeneralConfigTest.java
+++ b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/backend/config/GeneralConfigTest.java
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.config.GerritConfig;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.codeowners.acceptance.AbstractCodeOwnersTest;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.codeowners.backend.CodeOwnerReference;
+import com.google.gerrit.plugins.codeowners.backend.EnableImplicitApprovals;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.codeowners.backend.FallbackCodeOwners;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.codeowners.common.CodeOwnerConfigValidationPolicy;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.codeowners.common.MergeCommitStrategy;
@@ -449,16 +450,27 @@
   }
 
   @Test
+  public void cannotGetEnableImplicitApprovalsForNullProject() throws Exception {
+    NullPointerException npe =
+        assertThrows(
+            NullPointerException.class,
+            () -> generalConfig.getEnableImplicitApprovals(/* project= */ null, new Config()));
+    assertThat(npe).hasMessageThat().isEqualTo("project");
+  }
+
+  @Test
   public void cannotGetEnableImplicitApprovalsForNullPluginConfig() throws Exception {
     NullPointerException npe =
         assertThrows(
-            NullPointerException.class, () -> generalConfig.getEnableImplicitApprovals(null));
+            NullPointerException.class,
+            () -> generalConfig.getEnableImplicitApprovals(project, /* pluginConfig= */ null));
     assertThat(npe).hasMessageThat().isEqualTo("pluginConfig");
   }
 
   @Test
   public void noEnableImplicitApprovalsConfiguration() throws Exception {
-    assertThat(generalConfig.getEnableImplicitApprovals(new Config())).isFalse();
+    assertThat(generalConfig.getEnableImplicitApprovals(project, new Config()))
+        .isEqualTo(EnableImplicitApprovals.FALSE);
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -466,7 +478,8 @@
   public void
       enableImplicitApprovalsConfigurationIsRetrievedFromGerritConfigIfNotSpecifiedOnProjectLevel()
           throws Exception {
-    assertThat(generalConfig.getEnableImplicitApprovals(new Config())).isTrue();
+    assertThat(generalConfig.getEnableImplicitApprovals(project, new Config()))
+        .isEqualTo(EnableImplicitApprovals.TRUE);
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -476,7 +489,26 @@
           throws Exception {
     Config cfg = new Config();
     cfg.setString(SECTION_CODE_OWNERS, null, KEY_ENABLE_IMPLICIT_APPROVALS, "false");
-    assertThat(generalConfig.getEnableImplicitApprovals(cfg)).isFalse();
+    assertThat(generalConfig.getEnableImplicitApprovals(project, cfg))
+        .isEqualTo(EnableImplicitApprovals.FALSE);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  @GerritConfig(name = "plugin.code-owners.enableImplicitApprovals", value = "true")
+  public void invalidEnableImplicitApprovalsConfigurationInPluginConfigIsIgnored()
+      throws Exception {
+    Config cfg = new Config();
+    cfg.setString(SECTION_CODE_OWNERS, null, KEY_ENABLE_IMPLICIT_APPROVALS, "INVALID");
+    assertThat(generalConfig.getEnableImplicitApprovals(project, cfg))
+        .isEqualTo(EnableImplicitApprovals.TRUE);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  @GerritConfig(name = "plugin.code-owners.enableImplicitApprovals", value = "INVALID")
+  public void invalidEnableImplicitApprovalsConfigurationInGerritConfigIsIgnored()
+      throws Exception {
+    assertThat(generalConfig.getEnableImplicitApprovals(project, cfg))
+        .isEqualTo(EnableImplicitApprovals.FALSE);
   }
 
   @Test
diff --git a/resources/Documentation/config.md b/resources/Documentation/config.md
index 8c036fb..b40e939 100644
--- a/resources/Documentation/config.md
+++ b/resources/Documentation/config.md
@@ -91,22 +91,37 @@
 <a id="pluginCodeOwnersEnableImplicitApprovals">plugin.@PLUGIN@.enableImplictApprovals</a>
 :       Whether an implicit code owner approval from the last uploader is
         assumed.\
-        This setting has no effect if self approvals from the last uploader are
-        ignored because the [required label](#pluginCodeOwnersRequiredApproval)
-        is configured to [ignore self
-        approvals](../../../Documentation/config-labels.html#label_ignoreSelfApproval)
+        \
+        Can be `FALSE`, `TRUE` or `FORCED`.\
+        \
+        `FALSE`:\
+        Implicit code-owner approvals of the the patch set uploader are
+        disabled.\
+        \
+        `TRUE`:\
+        Implicit code-owner approvals of the patch set uploader are enabled, but
+        only if the configured [required
+        label](#pluginCodeOwnersRequiredApproval) is not configured to [ignore
+        self approvals](../../../Documentation/config-labels.html#label_ignoreSelfApproval)
         from the uploader.\
-        If enabled, code owners need to be aware of their implicit approval when
-        they upload new patch sets for other users (e.g. if a contributor pushes
-        a change to a wrong branch and a code owner helps them to get it rebased
-        onto the correct branch, the rebased change has implicit approvals from
-        the code owner, since the code owner is the uploader).\
+        \
+        `FORCED`:\
+        Implicit code-owner approvals of the patch set uploader are enabled,
+        even if the configured [required
+        label](#pluginCodeOwnersRequiredApproval) disallows self approvals.\
+        \
+        If enabled/enforced, code owners need to be aware of their implicit
+        approval when they upload new patch sets for other users (e.g. if a
+        contributor pushes a change to a wrong branch and a code owner helps
+        them to get it rebased onto the correct branch, the rebased change has
+        implicit approvals from the code owner, since the code owner is the
+        uploader).\
         If implicit code owner approvals are disabled, code owners can still
         self-approve their own changes by voting on the change.\
         Can be overridden per project by setting
         [codeOwners.enableImplictApprovals](#codeOwnersEnableImplicitApprovals)
         in `@PLUGIN@.config`.\
-        By default `false`.
+        By default `FALSE`.
 
 <a id="pluginCodeOwnersGlobalCodeOwner">plugin.@PLUGIN@.globalCodeOwner</a>
 :       The email of a user that should be a code owner globally across all
@@ -454,16 +469,15 @@
 <a id="codeOwnersEnableImplicitApprovals">codeOwners.enableImplicitApprovals</a>
 :       Whether an implicit code owner approval from the last uploader is
         assumed.\
-        This setting has no effect if self approvals from the last uploader are
-        ignored because the [required label](#codeOwnersRequiredApproval)
-        is configured to [ignore self
-        approvals](../../../Documentation/config-labels.html#label_ignoreSelfApproval)
-        from the uploader.\
-        If enabled, code owners need to be aware of their implicit approval when
-        they upload new patch sets for other users (e.g. if a contributor pushes
-        a change to a wrong branch and a code owner helps them to get it rebased
-        onto the correct branch, the rebased change has implicit approvals from
-        the code owner, since the code owner is the uploader).\
+        Can be `FALSE`, `TRUE` or `FORCED` (see
+        [plugin.@PLUGIN@.enableImplicitApprovals](#pluginCodeOwnersEnableImplicitApprovals)
+        for an explanation of these values).\
+        If enabled/enforced, code owners need to be aware of their implicit
+        approval when they upload new patch sets for other users (e.g. if a
+        contributor pushes a change to a wrong branch and a code owner helps
+        them to get it rebased onto the correct branch, the rebased change has
+        implicit approvals from the code owner, since the code owner is the
+        uploader).\
         If implicit code owner approvals are disabled, code owners can still
         self-approve their own changes by voting on the change.\
         Overrides the global setting