diff --git a/.github/CODEOWNERS b/.github/CODEOWNERS
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..58192bc1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/CODEOWNERS
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+# see https://docs.github.com/en/repositories/managing-your-repositorys-settings-and-features/customizing-your-repository/about-code-owners#codeowners-syntax
+
+# These owners will be the default owners for everything in
+# the repo. Unless a later match takes precedence,
+*       @pi-hole/core-maintainers
diff --git a/.github/dependabot.yml b/.github/dependabot.yml
index e140f792..af9b74db 100644
--- a/.github/dependabot.yml
+++ b/.github/dependabot.yml
@@ -8,8 +8,6 @@ updates:
     time: "10:00"
   open-pull-requests-limit: 10
   target-branch: development
-  reviewers:
-    - "pi-hole/core-maintainers"
 - package-ecosystem: pip
   directory: "/test"
   schedule:
@@ -18,5 +16,3 @@ updates:
     time: "10:00"
   open-pull-requests-limit: 10
   target-branch: development
-  reviewers:
-    - "pi-hole/core-maintainers"