diff --git a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
index 24157bb68c1..f1ceb67a6d0 100644
--- a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
+++ b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -12,3 +12,4 @@ For non-trivial changes, follow the [change proposal process](https://github.com
 * [ ] [`CHANGELOG.md`](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md) file updated for non-trivial changes
   * For trivial changes, include `[chore]` in the PR title to skip the changelog check
 * [ ] [Spec compliance matrix](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/blob/main/spec-compliance-matrix/template.yaml) updated if necessary
+* [ ] [Declarative config data model](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/blob/main/specification/configuration/data-model.md#overview) is updated if SDK config surface is changed
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index cd4c67266ed..4f27c51511f 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -65,6 +65,8 @@ release.
 - Declarative configuration: add in-development guidance for exposing the
   effective `Resource` returned by `Create`.
   ([#4948](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/issues/4948))
+- Require spec changes to consider declarative config schema
+  ([#4916](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/pull/4916))
 
 ### Supplementary Guidelines
 
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 13041cd014a..a4aee86c615 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -42,6 +42,13 @@ Smaller changes can follow a shorter process:
   support of that SIG's maintainers. For example, this may be an unmerged
   PR with an indication of maintainers' intent to merge in the event the
   corresponding specification PR is merged.
+- If the change adds or modifies the configuration surface area of SDK
+  components, the PR description must provide links to corresponding proposed
+  changes to
+  the [declarative configuration schema](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-configuration).
+  Approval and merging of such PRs should result in merging the corresponding
+  schema PR. This ensures that proposals are evaluated holistically and that the
+  schema stays in sync with the specification.
 
 Trivial changes, such as clarifications, wording changes, spelling/grammar
 corrections, etc. can be made directly via pull requests and do not require an associated