diff --git a/OWNERS b/OWNERS
index b19c6f3fbbe..650d58f42ce 100644
--- a/OWNERS
+++ b/OWNERS
@@ -5,6 +5,12 @@
 # 1. owners to be able to self-approve
 # 2. authors to be able to select approvers
 
+# OWNERS file approvers
+# POLICY: at least three owners are needed before adding any OWNERS
+# REASON: GitHub does not recognize an author as able to give approval
+#         for a change; without this policy authors that are owners would
+#         be forced to rely on one reviewer, which would consequently
+#         lead to a bus factor of one to changes to that code
 @markdroth **/OWNERS
 @nicolasnoble **/OWNERS
 @ctiller **/OWNERS