diff --git a/server/src/chat/transport/matrix/notifications.rs b/server/src/chat/transport/matrix/notifications.rs
index a6f640f3..3ad84581 100644
--- a/server/src/chat/transport/matrix/notifications.rs
+++ b/server/src/chat/transport/matrix/notifications.rs
@@ -141,30 +141,6 @@ const RATE_LIMIT_DEBOUNCE: Duration = Duration::from_secs(60);
 /// into a single notification (only the final stage is announced).
 const STAGE_TRANSITION_DEBOUNCE: Duration = Duration::from_millis(200);
 
-/// Format a rate limit hard block notification message with scheduled resume time.
-///
-/// Returns `(plain_text, html)` suitable for `ChatTransport::send_message`.
-pub fn format_rate_limit_hard_block_notification(
-    item_id: &str,
-    story_name: Option<&str>,
-    agent_name: &str,
-    resume_at: chrono::DateTime<chrono::Utc>,
-) -> (String, String) {
-    let number = extract_story_number(item_id).unwrap_or(item_id);
-    let name = story_name.unwrap_or(item_id);
-    let local_time = resume_at.with_timezone(&chrono::Local);
-    let resume_str = local_time.format("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M").to_string();
-
-    let plain = format!(
-        "\u{1f6d1} #{number} {name} \u{2014} {agent_name} hit a hard rate limit; \
-         will auto-resume at {resume_str}"
-    );
-    let html = format!(
-        "\u{1f6d1} <strong>#{number}</strong> <em>{name}</em> \u{2014} \
-         {agent_name} hit a hard rate limit; will auto-resume at {resume_str}"
-    );
-    (plain, html)
-}
 
 /// Format a rate limit warning notification message.
 ///
@@ -383,39 +359,13 @@ pub fn spawn_notification_listener(
                     ref agent_name,
                     reset_at,
                 }) => {
-                    // Debounce: reuse the same key as RateLimitWarning so both
-                    // types are rate-limited together for the same agent.
-                    let debounce_key = format!("{story_id}:{agent_name}");
-                    let now = Instant::now();
-                    if let Some(&last) = rate_limit_last_notified.get(&debounce_key)
-                        && now.duration_since(last) < RATE_LIMIT_DEBOUNCE
-                    {
-                        slog!(
-                            "[bot] Rate-limit hard-block notification debounced for \
-                             {story_id}:{agent_name}"
-                        );
-                        continue;
-                    }
-                    rate_limit_last_notified.insert(debounce_key, now);
-
-                    let story_name = find_story_name_any_stage(&project_root, story_id);
-                    let (plain, html) = format_rate_limit_hard_block_notification(
-                        story_id,
-                        story_name.as_deref(),
-                        agent_name,
-                        reset_at,
+                    // Log server-side for debugging; do NOT post to Matrix.
+                    // Hard-block auto-resume is normal operation — the status
+                    // command already surfaces rate-limit state via emoji.
+                    slog!(
+                        "[bot] Rate-limit hard block for {story_id}/{agent_name}, \
+                         auto-resume at {reset_at}"
                     );
-
-                    slog!("[bot] Sending rate-limit hard-block notification: {plain}");
-
-                    for room_id in &get_room_ids() {
-                        if let Err(e) = transport.send_message(room_id, &plain, &html).await {
-                            slog!(
-                                "[bot] Failed to send rate-limit hard-block notification \
-                                 to {room_id}: {e}"
-                            );
-                        }
-                    }
                 }
                 Ok(WatcherEvent::ConfigChanged) => {
                     // Hot-reload: pick up any changes to rate_limit_notifications.
@@ -1062,17 +1012,10 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(calls.len(), 0, "RateLimitWarning should be suppressed when rate_limit_notifications = false");
     }
 
-    /// AC3: RateLimitHardBlock is always sent regardless of rate_limit_notifications.
+    /// RateLimitHardBlock is never posted to Matrix — it is logged server-side only.
     #[tokio::test]
-    async fn rate_limit_hard_block_always_sent_when_config_false() {
+    async fn rate_limit_hard_block_never_sent_to_matrix() {
         let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
-        let sk_dir = tmp.path().join(".huskies");
-        std::fs::create_dir_all(&sk_dir).unwrap();
-        std::fs::write(
-            sk_dir.join("project.toml"),
-            "rate_limit_notifications = false\n",
-        )
-        .unwrap();
 
         let (watcher_tx, watcher_rx) = broadcast::channel::<WatcherEvent>(16);
         let (transport, calls) = MockTransport::new();
@@ -1094,7 +1037,7 @@ mod tests {
         tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(100)).await;
 
         let calls = calls.lock().unwrap();
-        assert_eq!(calls.len(), 1, "RateLimitHardBlock should always be sent");
+        assert_eq!(calls.len(), 0, "RateLimitHardBlock must not post to Matrix");
     }
 
     /// AC3: StoryBlocked is always sent regardless of rate_limit_notifications.