diff --git a/.github/pull_request_template.md b/.github/pull_request_template.md
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+## Checklist
+
+When making changes to YAML files in the [schemas](../python/lsst/sdm_schemas/schemas) directory:
+
+- [ ] If applicable, incremented the schema version number, following the guidelines in the [contribution guide](../CONTRIBUTING.md)
+- [ ] Referred to the [documentation on specific schemas](../CONTRIBUTING.md#specific-schema-documentation) for additional versioning information, change constraints, or tasks that may need to be performed, based on which schema is being updated
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
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+Contributing to SDM Schemas
+===========================
+
+Creating a PR
+-------------
+
+All changes to the repository must be made by [opening a pull request](https://github.com/lsst/sdm_schemas/compare), which will require one approving reviewer.
+Any branches used for PRs which contain non-trivial changes should follow the [standard DM naming convention for ticket branches](https://developer.lsst.io/work/flow.html#ticket-branches), or the PR will be rejected and closed.
+
+The PR title should be formatted like: `[TICKET]: [TITLE]` where `TICKET` is the Jira ticket number and `TITLE` is a short description.
+
+For example, this is a valid PR title, with a dummy ticket number:
+
+`DM-12345: Add ra and dec columns to test schema`.
+
+Including the name of the schema in the PR title is also helpful for the reviewer and provenance, e.g., `test` in this case.
+
+An appropriate reviewer should be assigned, based on which schema is being changed or added.
+If the author does not know who should review their PR, [JeremyMcCormick](https://github.com/JeremyMcCormick) can be assigned as a default, and an appropriate reviewer will be found.
+
+The author should [resolve the review](https://developer.lsst.io/work/flow.html#resolving-a-review) if changes are requested.
+Once the PR is approved, it may then be merged by the author.
+
+Pull Request Checks
+-------------------
+
+SDM Schemas pull requests have an extensive set of checks that will run automatically.
+Aside from special cases, a pull request will have to pass all of these checks before it can be merged.
+
+These checks will:
+
+- [Build TAP_SCHEMA and DataLink resources](.github/workflows/build.yaml)
+- [Compare Schemas for Changes](.github/workflows/compare.yaml) - Schemas that are in the [deployed list](./python/lsst/sdm_schemas/schemas/deployed-schemas.txt) will fail this check.
+- [Build the Schema Browser website](.github/workflows/docs.yaml)
+- [Check that `main` is not merged into the branch](.github/workflows/rebase_checker.yaml)
+- [Test that the schemas can be used to create databases](.github/workflows/test_databases.yaml)
+- [Vaildate the schemas using Felis](.github/workflows/validate.yaml)
+- [Lint YAML files](.github/workflows/yamllint.yaml)
+
+The checks will rerun anytime the PR branch is updated.
+
+Schema Versioning
+-----------------
+
+Individual schemas may have their own internal [version](https://felis.lsst.io/user-guide/model.html#schema-version) for tracking changes, which is defined at the top of the file, as in [apdb.yaml](./python/lsst/sdm_schemas/schemas/apdb.yaml).
+(This is distinct from tags or versions of sdm_schemas itself, and not all schemas may be using them.)
+This version may need to be updated when making changes.
+
+It is recommended to use versions with three numbers in the format `MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH`, such as `1.2.3`, though any scheme may be used in practice.
+
+The following guidelines can be used for incrementing the version:
+
+- Different `MAJOR` versions are incompatible.
+- Different `MINOR` versions are backward compatible.
+- Different `PATCH` versions are completely compatible.
+
+These suggestions need not be followed strictly, and there may be exceptions.
+For instance, some operations which are technically backward-compatible, such as adding a table, should likely trigger a `MAJOR` version increment rather than `MINOR`, as they would constitute an important and significant update, potentially requiring significant changes to client code or APIs.
+
+The [specific schema documentation](#specific-schema-documentation) should be consulted for more specific rules and guidelines on version incrementing.
+
+Database Migrations
+-------------------
+
+Database migrations are currently performed with schema-specific tooling in external repositories, so documentation for that particular schema should be consulted on how to perform them and how this may impact the pull request process.
+
+Specific Schema Documentation
+-----------------------------
+
+- [Alert Production Database (APDB)](docs/APDB.md)
diff --git a/docs/APDB.md b/docs/APDB.md
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+Alert Production Database (APDB) Schema
+=======================================
+
+The [apdb](../python/lsst/sdm_schemas/schemas/apdb.yaml) schema describes the Alert Production Database (APDB), which contains the results of processing from the [Alert Production Pipeline](https://github.com/lsst/ap_pipe).
+
+Schema Versioning
+-----------------
+
+The versioning system of the APDB is outlined in [DMTN-269](https://dmtn-269.lsst.io/).
+The deployed database schema is a product of the [schema in sdm_schemas](../python/lsst/sdm_schemas/schemas/apdb.yaml) with additional processing by the APDB client library from the [dax_apdb](https://github.com/lsst/dax_apdb) repository.
+Compatibility of the client executable with the actual database schema is determined by the version number in the YAML file and the version stored in the database metadata.
+
+Backward compatibility in the context of the APDB implies that a client using a schema with a higher minor version will be able to read and write into a database with a lower minor version -- in other words, an existing database instance need not be migrated to match the newer client interface.
+But a client using a schema with a lower minor version will be incompatible with a database that has a higher version number.
+There may be cases where significant schema changes may still be compatible if the client can handle them transparently.
+
+Typical Schema Changes
+----------------------
+
+Here are some guidelines for incrementing the version number based on what changes are being performed:
+
+| Operation | Increment | Notes |
+|--------|-----------|-------|
+| Add table | `MAJOR` | The client using the new schema will typically want to read or write into that table, which will make it incompatible.|
+| Add column | `MAJOR` | The client using the new schema will typically want to read or write into that column, which will make it incompatible.|
+| Remove column | `MINOR` or `PATCH` | Clients using the new schema will not care about a removed column, so this should be backward compatible.|
+| Change column type | `MINOR` or `PATCH` | This may or may not be completely transparent and so could be either backward compatible or fully compatible.
+| Add index | `PATCH` | This should be fully backward compatible.|
+| Change object metadata | - | This does not affect the database schema and should not require a version change.|
+
+Client Compatibility
+--------------------
+
+Changes to the APDB schema must be propagated to the Avro alert schemas defined in the [alert_packet](https://github.com/lsst/alert_packet) repository, following the instructions under [Adding a new schema](https://github.com/lsst/alert_packet/tree/main?tab=readme-ov-file#adding-a-new-schema).
+
+Database Migrations
+-------------------
+
+The APDB database schema is upgraded using a special migration tool defined in the [dax_apdb_migrate](https://github.com/lsst-dm/dax_apdb_migrate) repository.
+For every version change to `apdb.yaml`, a new migration script needs to be added to that repository.
+The details of the migration process are described in the [package documentation](https://github.com/lsst-dm/dax_apdb_migrate/blob/main/doc/lsst.dax.apdb_migrate/index.rst).
+The APDB includes a Cassandra-based implementation in addition to a SQL-based one, and the Cassandra implementation may impose additional restrictions on schema changes.
+Migration scripts should normally be implemented on the same Jira ticket as the corresponding schema change.
+
+Reviewers
+---------
+
+- [Ian Sullivan](https://github.com/isullivan) - primary reviewer (may reroute to another reviewer depending on changes)
+- [Andy Salnikov](https://github.com/andy-slac) - for guidance on updating schema versions
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