diff --git a/.changeset/wild-buses-notice.md b/.changeset/wild-buses-notice.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7c67ec685b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/wild-buses-notice.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@backstage/backend-defaults': patch
+---
+
+Added the option to skip database migrations by setting `skipMigrations: true` in options. This can be done globally in the database config or by plugin id.
diff --git a/packages/backend-defaults/config.d.ts b/packages/backend-defaults/config.d.ts
index fee8846c4b..35de7ccdac 100644
--- a/packages/backend-defaults/config.d.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-defaults/config.d.ts
@@ -375,6 +375,108 @@ export interface Config {
     };
   };
 
+  /** Database connection configuration, select base database type using the `client` field */
+  database: {
+    /** Default database client to use */
+    client: 'better-sqlite3' | 'sqlite3' | 'pg';
+    /**
+     * Base database connection string, or object with individual connection properties
+     * @visibility secret
+     */
+    connection:
+      | string
+      | {
+          /**
+           * Password that belongs to the client User
+           * @visibility secret
+           */
+          password?: string;
+          /**
+           * Other connection settings
+           */
+          [key: string]: unknown;
+        };
+    /** Database name prefix override */
+    prefix?: string;
+    /**
+     * Whether to ensure the given database exists by creating it if it does not.
+     * Defaults to true if unspecified.
+     */
+    ensureExists?: boolean;
+    /**
+     * Whether to ensure the given database schema exists by creating it if it does not.
+     * Defaults to false if unspecified.
+     *
+     * NOTE: Currently only supported by the `pg` client when pluginDivisionMode: schema
+     */
+    ensureSchemaExists?: boolean;
+    /**
+     * How plugins databases are managed/divided in the provided database instance.
+     *
+     * `database` -> Plugins are each given their own database to manage their schemas/tables.
+     *
+     * `schema` -> Plugins will be given their own schema (in the specified/default database)
+     *             to manage their tables.
+     *
+     * NOTE: Currently only supported by the `pg` client.
+     *
+     * @default database
+     */
+    pluginDivisionMode?: 'database' | 'schema';
+    /** Configures the ownership of newly created schemas in pg databases. */
+    role?: string;
+    /**
+     * Skip running database migrations.
+     * NOTE: Currently only supported by the `pg` client.
+     */
+    skipMigrations?: boolean;
+    /**
+     * Arbitrary config object to pass to knex when initializing
+     * (https://knexjs.org/#Installation-client). Most notable is the debug
+     * and asyncStackTraces booleans
+     */
+    knexConfig?: object;
+    /** Plugin specific database configuration and client override */
+    plugin?: {
+      [pluginId: string]: {
+        /** Database client override */
+        client?: 'better-sqlite3' | 'sqlite3' | 'pg';
+        /**
+         * Database connection string or Knex object override
+         * @visibility secret
+         */
+        connection?: string | object;
+        /**
+         * Whether to ensure the given database exists by creating it if it does not.
+         * Defaults to base config if unspecified.
+         */
+        ensureExists?: boolean;
+        /**
+         * Whether to ensure the given database schema exists by creating it if it does not.
+         * Defaults to false if unspecified.
+         *
+         * NOTE: Currently only supported by the `pg` client when pluginDivisionMode: schema
+         */
+        ensureSchemaExists?: boolean;
+        /**
+         * Arbitrary config object to pass to knex when initializing
+         * (https://knexjs.org/#Installation-client). Most notable is the
+         * debug and asyncStackTraces booleans.
+         *
+         * This is merged recursively into the base knexConfig
+         */
+        knexConfig?: object;
+        /** Configures the ownership of newly created schemas in pg databases. */
+        role?: string;
+        /**
+         * Skip running database migrations.
+         * NOTE: Currently only supported by the `pg` client.
+         */
+        skipMigrations?: boolean;
+      };
+    };
+  };
+
   /**
    * Options used by the default discovery service.
    */
diff --git a/packages/backend-defaults/src/entrypoints/database/DatabaseManager.test.ts b/packages/backend-defaults/src/entrypoints/database/DatabaseManager.test.ts
index 347ec742c0..630dfa6061 100644
--- a/packages/backend-defaults/src/entrypoints/database/DatabaseManager.test.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-defaults/src/entrypoints/database/DatabaseManager.test.ts
@@ -107,9 +107,15 @@ describe('DatabaseManagerImpl', () => {
     });
 
     const impl2 = new DatabaseManagerImpl(
-      new ConfigReader({ client: 'pg' }),
-      { pg: connector },
-      { migrations: { skip: true } },
+      new ConfigReader({
+        client: 'pg',
+        backend: {
+          database: { plugin: { plugin1: { skipMigrations: true } } },
+        },
+      }),
+      {
+        pg: connector,
+      },
     );
 
     expect((await impl1.forPlugin('plugin1')).migrations).toEqual({
@@ -119,5 +125,23 @@ describe('DatabaseManagerImpl', () => {
     expect((await impl2.forPlugin('plugin1')).migrations).toEqual({
       skip: true,
     });
+
+    const impl3 = new DatabaseManagerImpl(
+      new ConfigReader({
+        client: 'pg',
+        backend: {
+          database: {
+            skipMigrations: true,
+            plugin: { plugin1: { skipMigrations: false } },
+          },
+        },
+      }),
+      {
+        pg: connector,
+      },
+    );
+    expect((await impl3.forPlugin('plugin1')).migrations).toEqual({
+      skip: true,
+    });
   });
 });
diff --git a/packages/backend-defaults/src/entrypoints/database/DatabaseManager.ts b/packages/backend-defaults/src/entrypoints/database/DatabaseManager.ts
index 7e3adf17df..f756e11aac 100644
--- a/packages/backend-defaults/src/entrypoints/database/DatabaseManager.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-defaults/src/entrypoints/database/DatabaseManager.ts
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@ function pluginPath(pluginId: string): string {
  * @public
  */
 export type DatabaseManagerOptions = {
-  migrations?: DatabaseService['migrations'];
   logger?: LoggerService;
 };
 
@@ -86,7 +85,16 @@ export class DatabaseManagerImpl implements LegacyRootDatabaseService {
       );
     }
     const getClient = () => this.getDatabase(pluginId, connector, deps);
-    const migrations = { skip: false, ...this.options?.migrations };
+
+    const migrationConfig =
+      this.config.getOptionalBoolean('backend.database.skipMigrations') ||
+      this.config.getOptionalBoolean(
+        `backend.database.plugin.${pluginId}.skipMigrations`,
+      );
+    const migrations = {
+      skip: migrationConfig || false,
+    };
+
     return { getClient, migrations };
   }