diff --git a/.chloggen/issue-39491.yaml b/.chloggen/issue-39491.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..e4938d310f433
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.chloggen/issue-39491.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+# Use this changelog template to create an entry for release notes.
+
+# One of 'breaking', 'deprecation', 'new_component', 'enhancement', 'bug_fix'
+change_type: enhancement
+
+# The name of the component, or a single word describing the area of concern, (e.g. receiver/filelog)
+component: receiver/filelog
+
+# A brief description of the change.  Surround your text with quotes ("") if it needs to start with a backtick (`).
+note: Suppress repeated permission-denied errors
+
+# Mandatory: One or more tracking issues related to the change. You can use the PR number here if no issue exists.
+issues: [39491]
+
+# (Optional) One or more lines of additional information to render under the primary note.
+# These lines will be padded with 2 spaces and then inserted directly into the document.
+# Use pipe (|) for multiline entries.
+subtext: |
+  Only one error is logged per file per process run, and an informational message is emitted when the file becomes readable again.
+  This reduces log spam and improves clarity for operators.
+
+# If your change doesn't affect end users or the exported elements of any package,
+# you should instead start your pull request title with [chore] or use the "Skip Changelog" label.
+# Optional: The change log or logs in which this entry should be included.
+# e.g. '[user]' or '[user, api]'
+# Include 'user' if the change is relevant to end users.
+# Include 'api' if there is a change to a library API.
+# Default: '[user]'
+change_logs: [user]
diff --git a/pkg/stanza/fileconsumer/file.go b/pkg/stanza/fileconsumer/file.go
index 5982cabb63d14..c08bebbd8526a 100644
--- a/pkg/stanza/fileconsumer/file.go
+++ b/pkg/stanza/fileconsumer/file.go
@@ -5,7 +5,9 @@ package fileconsumer // import "github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collecto
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"io/fs"
 	"os"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
@@ -22,6 +24,12 @@ import (
 	"github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-contrib/pkg/stanza/operator"
 )
 
+const (
+	// maxUnreadableEntries limits the number of paths tracked in the unreadable map
+	// to prevent memory issues when many files have permission errors.
+	maxUnreadableEntries = 10000
+)
+
 type Manager struct {
 	set    component.TelemetrySettings
 	wg     sync.WaitGroup
@@ -39,12 +47,17 @@ type Manager struct {
 	pollsToArchive int
 
 	telemetryBuilder *metadata.TelemetryBuilder
+
+	unreadable map[string]struct{}
 }
 
 func (m *Manager) Start(persister operator.Persister) error {
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 	m.cancel = cancel
 
+	// initialize runtime-only tracking of unreadable paths
+	m.unreadable = make(map[string]struct{})
+
 	if _, err := m.fileMatcher.MatchFiles(); err != nil {
 		m.set.Logger.Warn("finding files", zap.Error(err))
 	}
@@ -175,6 +188,8 @@ func (m *Manager) consume(ctx context.Context, paths []string) {
 	m.telemetryBuilder.FileconsumerOpenFiles.Add(ctx, int64(0-m.tracker.EndConsume()))
 }
 
+// makeFingerprint opens `path` and computes a fingerprint for the file
+// and contains logic to only log file permission errors once per file per startup
 func (m *Manager) makeFingerprint(path string) (*fingerprint.Fingerprint, *os.File) {
 	// Normalize the path to handle Windows UNC paths correctly
 	normalizedPath, wasCorrupted := normalizePath(path)
@@ -183,10 +198,29 @@ func (m *Manager) makeFingerprint(path string) (*fingerprint.Fingerprint, *os.Fi
 	}
 	file, err := os.Open(normalizedPath) // #nosec - operator must read in files defined by user
 	if err != nil {
-		m.set.Logger.Error("Failed to open file", zap.Error(err), zap.String("original_path", path), zap.String("normalized_path", normalizedPath))
+		// If a file is unreadable due to permissions error, store path in map and log error once (unless in debug mode)
+		if errors.Is(err, fs.ErrPermission) {
+			_, seen := m.unreadable[path]
+			if !seen {
+				// Limit map size to prevent unbounded growth
+				if len(m.unreadable) < maxUnreadableEntries {
+					m.unreadable[path] = struct{}{}
+				}
+				m.set.Logger.Error("Failed to open file - unreadable", zap.Error(err), zap.String("original_path", path), zap.String("normalized_path", normalizedPath))
+			}
+		} else {
+			// For non-permission errors, always log
+			m.set.Logger.Error("Failed to open file", zap.Error(err), zap.String("original_path", path), zap.String("normalized_path", normalizedPath))
+		}
 		return nil, nil
 	}
 
+	// Notify if previously unreadable file is now able to be read
+	if _, seen := m.unreadable[path]; seen {
+		m.set.Logger.Info("Previously unreadable file is now readable", zap.String("path", path))
+		delete(m.unreadable, path)
+	}
+
 	fp, err := m.readerFactory.NewFingerprint(file)
 	if err != nil {
 		if err = file.Close(); err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/stanza/fileconsumer/unreadable_test.go b/pkg/stanza/fileconsumer/unreadable_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..e5b43d274a26d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/stanza/fileconsumer/unreadable_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,165 @@
+// Copyright The OpenTelemetry Authors
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+package fileconsumer
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"runtime"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/collector/component/componenttest"
+	"go.uber.org/zap"
+	"go.uber.org/zap/zapcore"
+	"go.uber.org/zap/zaptest/observer"
+
+	"github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-contrib/pkg/stanza/internal/filetest"
+	"github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-contrib/pkg/stanza/testutil"
+)
+
+// TestUnreadableFileLoggedOnce verifies that permission-denied errors when
+// opening files are logged only once per file per process run, and that an
+// informational message is emitted when the file later becomes readable.
+func TestUnreadableFileLoggedOnce(t *testing.T) {
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		t.Skip("permission manipulation tests are not reliable on Windows")
+	}
+
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	tempDir := t.TempDir()
+	cfg := NewConfig().includeDir(tempDir)
+	operator, _ := testManager(t, cfg)
+
+	// Create a file and remove permissions so open will fail
+	f := filetest.OpenTemp(t, tempDir)
+	_, err := f.WriteString("abc\n")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NoError(t, f.Close())
+	require.NoError(t, os.Chmod(f.Name(), 0))
+
+	core, obs := observer.New(zapcore.DebugLevel)
+	logger := zap.New(core)
+	set := componenttest.NewNopTelemetrySettings()
+	set.Logger = logger
+
+	operator.set.Logger = set.Logger
+	require.NoError(t, operator.Start(testutil.NewUnscopedMockPersister()))
+	defer func() {
+		require.NoError(t, operator.Stop())
+	}()
+
+	// First poll should attempt to open and log an error once
+	operator.poll(t.Context())
+
+	// Verify the unreadable map recorded the path and exactly one error was logged
+	require.Eventually(t, func() bool {
+		return len(operator.unreadable) == 1
+	}, 2*time.Second, 10*time.Millisecond, "expected unreadable map to have one entry after first poll")
+
+	require.Eventually(t, func() bool {
+		countErrMsgs := 0
+		for _, e := range obs.All() {
+			if e.Level == zapcore.ErrorLevel && e.Message == "Failed to open file - unreadable" {
+				countErrMsgs++
+			}
+		}
+		return countErrMsgs == 1
+	}, 2*time.Second, 10*time.Millisecond, "expected exactly one 'Failed to open file - unreadable' error after first poll")
+
+	// Second poll should not add another error-level log for the same path
+	operator.poll(t.Context())
+
+	require.Eventually(t, func() bool {
+		countErrMsgs := 0
+		for _, e := range obs.All() {
+			if e.Level == zapcore.ErrorLevel && e.Message == "Failed to open file - unreadable" {
+				countErrMsgs++
+			}
+		}
+		return countErrMsgs == 1
+	}, 2*time.Second, 10*time.Millisecond, "expected still exactly one 'Failed to open file - unreadable' error after second poll")
+
+	// Verify the unreadable map still contains the entry (no reinitialization)
+	require.Len(t, operator.unreadable, 1, "expected unreadable map to still have one entry after second poll")
+
+	// Now make the file readable again and poll; should emit an info message
+	require.NoError(t, os.Chmod(f.Name(), 0o644))
+	operator.poll(t.Context())
+
+	require.Eventually(t, func() bool {
+		for _, e := range obs.All() {
+			if e.Level == zapcore.InfoLevel && e.Message == "Previously unreadable file is now readable" {
+				return true
+			}
+		}
+		return false
+	}, 2*time.Second, 10*time.Millisecond, "expected at least one info message when file becomes readable")
+}
+
+// TestNonPermissionErrorsAlwaysLogged verifies that errors other than permission
+// errors (e.g., file not found) are always logged and not suppressed.
+func TestNonPermissionErrorsAlwaysLogged(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	tempDir := t.TempDir()
+	cfg := NewConfig().includeDir(tempDir)
+	operator, _ := testManager(t, cfg)
+
+	core, obs := observer.New(zapcore.DebugLevel)
+	logger := zap.New(core)
+	set := componenttest.NewNopTelemetrySettings()
+	set.Logger = logger
+
+	operator.set.Logger = set.Logger
+	require.NoError(t, operator.Start(testutil.NewUnscopedMockPersister()))
+	defer func() {
+		require.NoError(t, operator.Stop())
+	}()
+
+	// Directly call makeFingerprint with a non-existent file path
+	// This simulates a file being deleted after matching but before opening
+	nonExistentPath := tempDir + "/non_existent_file.log"
+
+	// First call should log an error
+	fp, file := operator.makeFingerprint(nonExistentPath)
+	require.Nil(t, fp)
+	require.Nil(t, file)
+
+	require.Eventually(t, func() bool {
+		for _, e := range obs.All() {
+			if e.Level == zapcore.ErrorLevel && e.Message == "Failed to open file" {
+				return true
+			}
+		}
+		return false
+	}, 2*time.Second, 10*time.Millisecond, "expected an error log on first call for non-existent file")
+
+	countBeforeSecondCall := 0
+	for _, e := range obs.All() {
+		if e.Level == zapcore.ErrorLevel && e.Message == "Failed to open file" {
+			countBeforeSecondCall++
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Second call should also log an error (not suppressed like permission errors)
+	fp, file = operator.makeFingerprint(nonExistentPath)
+	require.Nil(t, fp)
+	require.Nil(t, file)
+
+	require.Eventually(t, func() bool {
+		countAfterSecondCall := 0
+		for _, e := range obs.All() {
+			if e.Level == zapcore.ErrorLevel && e.Message == "Failed to open file" {
+				countAfterSecondCall++
+			}
+		}
+		// Should have at least one more error than before
+		return countAfterSecondCall > countBeforeSecondCall
+	}, 2*time.Second, 10*time.Millisecond, "expected another error log on second call for non-permission errors")
+
+	// Verify the unreadable map is empty (non-permission errors shouldn't be tracked)
+	require.Empty(t, operator.unreadable, "expected unreadable map to be empty for non-permission errors")
+}