diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 44c7a033683..479dc2ff5f4 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ This project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.htm
 
 - `ParseYAML` in `go.opentelemetry.io/contrib/otelconf` now supports environment variables substitution in the format `${[env:]VAR_NAME[:-defaultvalue]}`. (#6215)
 - Introduce v1.0.0-rc.2 model in `go.opentelemetry.io/contrib/otelconf`. (#8031)
+- Add unmarshaling and validation for `CardinalityLimits` and `SpanLimits` to v1.0.0 model in `go.opentelemetry.io/contrib/otelconf`. (#8043)
 
 ### Removed
 
diff --git a/otelconf/config_common.go b/otelconf/config_common.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..53c8e115682
--- /dev/null
+++ b/otelconf/config_common.go
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+// Copyright The OpenTelemetry Authors
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+package otelconf // import "go.opentelemetry.io/contrib/otelconf"
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+)
+
+var (
+	errUnmarshalingCardinalityLimits = errors.New("unmarshaling cardinality_limit")
+	errUnmarshalingSpanLimits        = errors.New("unmarshaling span_limit")
+)
+
+type errBound struct {
+	Field string
+	Bound int
+	Op    string
+}
+
+func (e *errBound) Error() string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("field %s: must be %s %d", e.Field, e.Op, e.Bound)
+}
+
+func (e *errBound) Is(target error) bool {
+	t, ok := target.(*errBound)
+	if !ok {
+		return false
+	}
+	return e.Field == t.Field && e.Bound == t.Bound && e.Op == t.Op
+}
+
+// newErrGreaterOrEqualZero creates a new error indicating that the field must be greater than
+// or equal to zero.
+func newErrGreaterOrEqualZero(field string) error {
+	return &errBound{Field: field, Bound: 0, Op: ">="}
+}
+
+// newErrGreaterThanZero creates a new error indicating that the field must be greater
+// than zero.
+func newErrGreaterThanZero(field string) error {
+	return &errBound{Field: field, Bound: 0, Op: ">"}
+}
+
+// validateCardinalityLimits handles validation for CardinalityLimits.
+func validateCardinalityLimits(plain *CardinalityLimits) error {
+	if plain.Counter != nil && 0 >= *plain.Counter {
+		return newErrGreaterThanZero("counter")
+	}
+	if plain.Default != nil && 0 >= *plain.Default {
+		return newErrGreaterThanZero("default")
+	}
+	if plain.Gauge != nil && 0 >= *plain.Gauge {
+		return newErrGreaterThanZero("gauge")
+	}
+	if plain.Histogram != nil && 0 >= *plain.Histogram {
+		return newErrGreaterThanZero("histogram")
+	}
+	if plain.ObservableCounter != nil && 0 >= *plain.ObservableCounter {
+		return newErrGreaterThanZero("observable_counter")
+	}
+	if plain.ObservableGauge != nil && 0 >= *plain.ObservableGauge {
+		return newErrGreaterThanZero("observable_gauge")
+	}
+	if plain.ObservableUpDownCounter != nil && 0 >= *plain.ObservableUpDownCounter {
+		return newErrGreaterThanZero("observable_up_down_counter")
+	}
+	if plain.UpDownCounter != nil && 0 >= *plain.UpDownCounter {
+		return newErrGreaterThanZero("up_down_counter")
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// validateSpanLimits handles validation for SpanLimits.
+func validateSpanLimits(plain *SpanLimits) error {
+	if plain.AttributeCountLimit != nil && 0 > *plain.AttributeCountLimit {
+		return newErrGreaterOrEqualZero("attribute_count_limit")
+	}
+	if plain.AttributeValueLengthLimit != nil && 0 > *plain.AttributeValueLengthLimit {
+		return newErrGreaterOrEqualZero("attribute_value_length_limit")
+	}
+	if plain.EventAttributeCountLimit != nil && 0 > *plain.EventAttributeCountLimit {
+		return newErrGreaterOrEqualZero("event_attribute_count_limit")
+	}
+	if plain.EventCountLimit != nil && 0 > *plain.EventCountLimit {
+		return newErrGreaterOrEqualZero("event_count_limit")
+	}
+	if plain.LinkAttributeCountLimit != nil && 0 > *plain.LinkAttributeCountLimit {
+		return newErrGreaterOrEqualZero("link_attribute_count_limit")
+	}
+	if plain.LinkCountLimit != nil && 0 > *plain.LinkCountLimit {
+		return newErrGreaterOrEqualZero("link_count_limit")
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/otelconf/config_json.go b/otelconf/config_json.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..cebfad15512
--- /dev/null
+++ b/otelconf/config_json.go
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+// Copyright The OpenTelemetry Authors
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+package otelconf // import "go.opentelemetry.io/contrib/otelconf"
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+)
+
+// UnmarshalJSON implements json.Unmarshaler.
+func (j *CardinalityLimits) UnmarshalJSON(value []byte) error {
+	type Plain CardinalityLimits
+	var plain Plain
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(value, &plain); err != nil {
+		return errors.Join(errUnmarshalingCardinalityLimits, err)
+	}
+	if err := validateCardinalityLimits((*CardinalityLimits)(&plain)); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	*j = CardinalityLimits(plain)
+	return nil
+}
+
+// UnmarshalJSON implements json.Unmarshaler.
+func (j *SpanLimits) UnmarshalJSON(value []byte) error {
+	type Plain SpanLimits
+	var plain Plain
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(value, &plain); err != nil {
+		return errors.Join(errUnmarshalingSpanLimits, err)
+	}
+	if err := validateSpanLimits((*SpanLimits)(&plain)); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	*j = SpanLimits(plain)
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/otelconf/config_test.go b/otelconf/config_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a4164bcfd49
--- /dev/null
+++ b/otelconf/config_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,225 @@
+// Copyright The OpenTelemetry Authors
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+package otelconf
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"go.yaml.in/yaml/v3"
+)
+
+func TestUnmarshalCardinalityLimits(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, tt := range []struct {
+		name       string
+		yamlConfig []byte
+		jsonConfig []byte
+		wantErrT   error
+	}{
+		{
+			name:       "valid with all fields positive",
+			jsonConfig: []byte(`{"counter":100,"default":200,"gauge":300,"histogram":400,"observable_counter":500,"observable_gauge":600,"observable_up_down_counter":700,"up_down_counter":800}`),
+			yamlConfig: []byte("counter: 100\ndefault: 200\ngauge: 300\nhistogram: 400\nobservable_counter: 500\nobservable_gauge: 600\nobservable_up_down_counter: 700\nup_down_counter: 800"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "valid with single field",
+			jsonConfig: []byte(`{"default":2000}`),
+			yamlConfig: []byte("default: 2000"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "valid empty",
+			jsonConfig: []byte(`{}`),
+			yamlConfig: []byte("{}"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "invalid data",
+			jsonConfig: []byte(`{:2000}`),
+			yamlConfig: []byte("counter: !!str 2000"),
+			wantErrT:   errUnmarshalingCardinalityLimits,
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "invalid counter zero",
+			jsonConfig: []byte(`{"counter":0}`),
+			yamlConfig: []byte("counter: 0"),
+			wantErrT:   newErrGreaterThanZero("counter"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "invalid counter negative",
+			jsonConfig: []byte(`{"counter":-1}`),
+			yamlConfig: []byte("counter: -1"),
+			wantErrT:   newErrGreaterThanZero("counter"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "invalid default zero",
+			jsonConfig: []byte(`{"default":0}`),
+			yamlConfig: []byte("default: 0"),
+			wantErrT:   newErrGreaterThanZero("default"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "invalid default negative",
+			jsonConfig: []byte(`{"default":-1}`),
+			yamlConfig: []byte("default: -1"),
+			wantErrT:   newErrGreaterThanZero("default"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "invalid gauge zero",
+			jsonConfig: []byte(`{"gauge":0}`),
+			yamlConfig: []byte("gauge: 0"),
+			wantErrT:   newErrGreaterThanZero("gauge"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "invalid gauge negative",
+			jsonConfig: []byte(`{"gauge":-1}`),
+			yamlConfig: []byte("gauge: -1"),
+			wantErrT:   newErrGreaterThanZero("gauge"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "invalid histogram zero",
+			jsonConfig: []byte(`{"histogram":0}`),
+			yamlConfig: []byte("histogram: 0"),
+			wantErrT:   newErrGreaterThanZero("histogram"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "invalid histogram negative",
+			jsonConfig: []byte(`{"histogram":-1}`),
+			yamlConfig: []byte("histogram: -1"),
+			wantErrT:   newErrGreaterThanZero("histogram"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "invalid observable_counter zero",
+			jsonConfig: []byte(`{"observable_counter":0}`),
+			yamlConfig: []byte("observable_counter: 0"),
+			wantErrT:   newErrGreaterThanZero("observable_counter"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "invalid observable_counter negative",
+			jsonConfig: []byte(`{"observable_counter":-1}`),
+			yamlConfig: []byte("observable_counter: -1"),
+			wantErrT:   newErrGreaterThanZero("observable_counter"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "invalid observable_gauge zero",
+			jsonConfig: []byte(`{"observable_gauge":0}`),
+			yamlConfig: []byte("observable_gauge: 0"),
+			wantErrT:   newErrGreaterThanZero("observable_gauge"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "invalid observable_gauge negative",
+			jsonConfig: []byte(`{"observable_gauge":-1}`),
+			yamlConfig: []byte("observable_gauge: -1"),
+			wantErrT:   newErrGreaterThanZero("observable_gauge"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "invalid observable_up_down_counter zero",
+			jsonConfig: []byte(`{"observable_up_down_counter":0}`),
+			yamlConfig: []byte("observable_up_down_counter: 0"),
+			wantErrT:   newErrGreaterThanZero("observable_up_down_counter"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "invalid observable_up_down_counter negative",
+			jsonConfig: []byte(`{"observable_up_down_counter":-1}`),
+			yamlConfig: []byte("observable_up_down_counter: -1"),
+			wantErrT:   newErrGreaterThanZero("observable_up_down_counter"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "invalid up_down_counter zero",
+			jsonConfig: []byte(`{"up_down_counter":0}`),
+			yamlConfig: []byte("up_down_counter: 0"),
+			wantErrT:   newErrGreaterThanZero("up_down_counter"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "invalid up_down_counter negative",
+			jsonConfig: []byte(`{"up_down_counter":-1}`),
+			yamlConfig: []byte("up_down_counter: -1"),
+			wantErrT:   newErrGreaterThanZero("up_down_counter"),
+		},
+	} {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			cl := CardinalityLimits{}
+			err := cl.UnmarshalJSON(tt.jsonConfig)
+			assert.ErrorIs(t, err, tt.wantErrT)
+
+			cl = CardinalityLimits{}
+			err = yaml.Unmarshal(tt.yamlConfig, &cl)
+			assert.ErrorIs(t, err, tt.wantErrT)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestUnmarshalSpanLimits(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, tt := range []struct {
+		name       string
+		yamlConfig []byte
+		jsonConfig []byte
+		wantErrT   error
+	}{
+		{
+			name:       "valid with all fields positive",
+			jsonConfig: []byte(`{"attribute_count_limit":100,"attribute_value_length_limit":200,"event_attribute_count_limit":300,"event_count_limit":400,"link_attribute_count_limit":500,"link_count_limit":600}`),
+			yamlConfig: []byte("attribute_count_limit: 100\nattribute_value_length_limit: 200\nevent_attribute_count_limit: 300\nevent_count_limit: 400\nlink_attribute_count_limit: 500\nlink_count_limit: 600"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "valid with single field",
+			jsonConfig: []byte(`{"attribute_value_length_limit":2000}`),
+			yamlConfig: []byte("attribute_value_length_limit: 2000"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "valid empty",
+			jsonConfig: []byte(`{}`),
+			yamlConfig: []byte("{}"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "invalid data",
+			jsonConfig: []byte(`{:2000}`),
+			yamlConfig: []byte("attribute_count_limit: !!str 2000"),
+			wantErrT:   errUnmarshalingSpanLimits,
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "invalid attribute_count_limit negative",
+			jsonConfig: []byte(`{"attribute_count_limit":-1}`),
+			yamlConfig: []byte("attribute_count_limit: -1"),
+			wantErrT:   newErrGreaterOrEqualZero("attribute_count_limit"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "invalid attribute_value_length_limit negative",
+			jsonConfig: []byte(`{"attribute_value_length_limit":-1}`),
+			yamlConfig: []byte("attribute_value_length_limit: -1"),
+			wantErrT:   newErrGreaterOrEqualZero("attribute_value_length_limit"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "invalid event_attribute_count_limit negative",
+			jsonConfig: []byte(`{"event_attribute_count_limit":-1}`),
+			yamlConfig: []byte("event_attribute_count_limit: -1"),
+			wantErrT:   newErrGreaterOrEqualZero("event_attribute_count_limit"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "invalid event_count_limit negative",
+			jsonConfig: []byte(`{"event_count_limit":-1}`),
+			yamlConfig: []byte("event_count_limit: -1"),
+			wantErrT:   newErrGreaterOrEqualZero("event_count_limit"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "invalid link_attribute_count_limit negative",
+			jsonConfig: []byte(`{"link_attribute_count_limit":-1}`),
+			yamlConfig: []byte("link_attribute_count_limit: -1"),
+			wantErrT:   newErrGreaterOrEqualZero("link_attribute_count_limit"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "invalid link_count_limit negative",
+			jsonConfig: []byte(`{"link_count_limit":-1}`),
+			yamlConfig: []byte("link_count_limit: -1"),
+			wantErrT:   newErrGreaterOrEqualZero("link_count_limit"),
+		},
+	} {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			cl := SpanLimits{}
+			err := cl.UnmarshalJSON(tt.jsonConfig)
+			assert.ErrorIs(t, err, tt.wantErrT)
+
+			cl = SpanLimits{}
+			err = yaml.Unmarshal(tt.yamlConfig, &cl)
+			assert.ErrorIs(t, err, tt.wantErrT)
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/otelconf/config_yaml.go b/otelconf/config_yaml.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..872c85b8b0a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/otelconf/config_yaml.go
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+// Copyright The OpenTelemetry Authors
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+package otelconf // import "go.opentelemetry.io/contrib/otelconf"
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+
+	"go.yaml.in/yaml/v3"
+)
+
+// UnmarshalYAML implements yaml.Unmarshaler.
+func (j *CardinalityLimits) UnmarshalYAML(node *yaml.Node) error {
+	type Plain CardinalityLimits
+	var plain Plain
+	if err := node.Decode(&plain); err != nil {
+		return errors.Join(errUnmarshalingCardinalityLimits, err)
+	}
+	if err := validateCardinalityLimits((*CardinalityLimits)(&plain)); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	*j = CardinalityLimits(plain)
+	return nil
+}
+
+// UnmarshalYAML implements yaml.Unmarshaler.
+func (j *SpanLimits) UnmarshalYAML(node *yaml.Node) error {
+	type Plain SpanLimits
+	var plain Plain
+	if err := node.Decode(&plain); err != nil {
+		return errors.Join(errUnmarshalingSpanLimits, err)
+	}
+	if err := validateSpanLimits((*SpanLimits)(&plain)); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	*j = SpanLimits(plain)
+	return nil
+}