diff --git a/src/me/ryanhamshire/GriefPrevention/DataStore.java b/src/me/ryanhamshire/GriefPrevention/DataStore.java
index 710b3b4..5a49e2f 100644
--- a/src/me/ryanhamshire/GriefPrevention/DataStore.java
+++ b/src/me/ryanhamshire/GriefPrevention/DataStore.java
@@ -716,7 +716,7 @@ public abstract class DataStore
 		}
 		
 		//if worldguard is installed, also prevent claims from overlapping any worldguard regions
-		if(this.worldGuard != null && creatingPlayer != null)
+		if(GriefPrevention.instance.config_claims_respectWorldGuard && this.worldGuard != null && creatingPlayer != null)
 		{
 		    if(!this.worldGuard.canBuild(newClaim.lesserBoundaryCorner, newClaim.greaterBoundaryCorner, creatingPlayer))
 		    {
diff --git a/src/me/ryanhamshire/GriefPrevention/GriefPrevention.java b/src/me/ryanhamshire/GriefPrevention/GriefPrevention.java
index e72d610..6a2a812 100644
--- a/src/me/ryanhamshire/GriefPrevention/GriefPrevention.java
+++ b/src/me/ryanhamshire/GriefPrevention/GriefPrevention.java
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ public class GriefPrevention extends JavaPlugin
 	public boolean config_claims_lockFenceGates;					//whether fence gates should be locked by default (require /accesstrust)
 	public boolean config_claims_enderPearlsRequireAccessTrust;		//whether teleporting into a claim with a pearl requires access trust
 	public int config_claims_maxClaimsPerPlayer;                    //maximum number of claims per player
+	public boolean config_claims_respectWorldGuard;                 //whether claim creations requires WG build permission in creation area
 	
 	public int config_claims_initialBlocks;							//the number of claim blocks a new player starts with
 	public double config_claims_abandonReturnRatio;                 //the portion of claim blocks returned to a player when a claim is abandoned
@@ -494,6 +495,7 @@ public class GriefPrevention extends JavaPlugin
         this.config_claims_expirationDays = config.getInt("GriefPrevention.Claims.Expiration.AllClaimDays", 0);
         this.config_claims_survivalAutoNatureRestoration = config.getBoolean("GriefPrevention.Claims.Expiration.AutomaticNatureRestoration.SurvivalWorlds", false);
         this.config_claims_maxClaimsPerPlayer = config.getInt("GriefPrevention.Claims.MaximumNumberOfClaimsPerPlayer", 0);
+        this.config_claims_respectWorldGuard = config.getBoolean("GriefPrevention.Claims.CreationRequiresWorldGuardBuildPermission", true);
         this.config_spam_enabled = config.getBoolean("GriefPrevention.Spam.Enabled", true);
         this.config_spam_loginCooldownSeconds = config.getInt("GriefPrevention.Spam.LoginCooldownSeconds", 60);
         this.config_spam_warningMessage = config.getString("GriefPrevention.Spam.WarningMessage", "Please reduce your noise level.  Spammers will be banned.");
@@ -704,6 +706,7 @@ public class GriefPrevention extends JavaPlugin
         outConfig.set("GriefPrevention.Claims.Expiration.AllClaimDays", this.config_claims_expirationDays);
         outConfig.set("GriefPrevention.Claims.Expiration.AutomaticNatureRestoration.SurvivalWorlds", this.config_claims_survivalAutoNatureRestoration);
         outConfig.set("GriefPrevention.Claims.MaximumNumberOfClaimsPerPlayer", this.config_claims_maxClaimsPerPlayer);
+        outConfig.set("GriefPrevention.Claims.CreationRequiresWorldGuardBuildPermission", this.config_claims_respectWorldGuard);
         
         outConfig.set("GriefPrevention.Spam.Enabled", this.config_spam_enabled);
         outConfig.set("GriefPrevention.Spam.LoginCooldownSeconds", this.config_spam_loginCooldownSeconds);