diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index ef409f2..08fffea 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -41,13 +41,39 @@ Do not commit directly to `main`. Every change goes through a PR.
 
 1. Create a feature branch from `main`
 2. Commit changes with conventional commit messages
-3. Push the branch to `origin`
-4. Create a PR with a clear title and description
-5. Request review from at least one team member
-6. Merge only after approval and passing checks
+3. **Run the pre-push gate BEFORE pushing** (see CI/CD Enforcement below)
+4. Push the branch to `origin`
+5. Create a PR with a clear title and description
+6. Request review from at least one team member
+7. Merge only after approval and passing checks
 
 PR titles follow: `[STU-N] Short description of change`
 
+## CI/CD Enforcement (CRITICAL — read before pushing)
+
+**Every branch pushed to origin must pass the full CI pipeline.** Pushing code that fails CI wastes reviewer time and blocks the board. These checks run on every PR and must be verified locally before pushing:
+
+```bash
+# 1. TypeScript — zero errors required
+npx tsc --noEmit
+
+# 2. Build — must compile cleanly
+npm run build
+
+# 3. Validation — requires dev server on port 3000
+npm run dev &  # start dev server, then:
+npm run test:validate
+
+# Or run all three together:
+npm run test:all
+```
+
+**Gate rule:** If any of `tsc --noEmit`, `npm run build`, or `npm run test:validate` fails locally, do NOT push. Fix the failures first. Only push when all three pass.
+
+**Stale cache warning:** When switching branches, always run `rm -rf .next && npx prisma generate` before type-checking. Stale `.next` caches and outdated Prisma clients cause false errors that masquerade as real bugs.
+
+**Lint-staged hazard:** The pre-commit hook stashes working changes. Switching branches while lint-staged is running can corrupt files with cross-branch artifacts. Verify working tree is clean before switching branches.
+
 ## TypeScript & Code Quality
 
 - Run `npm run test:types` before committing — zero type errors required