diff --git a/client/build/containers/PublishDisabledMessage/view.js b/client/build/containers/PublishDisabledMessage/view.js
index 24487939..7ef8f198 100644
--- a/client/build/containers/PublishDisabledMessage/view.js
+++ b/client/build/containers/PublishDisabledMessage/view.js
@@ -40,11 +40,15 @@ function (_React$Component) {
     key: "render",
     value: function render() {
       var message = this.props.message;
-      return _react.default.createElement("div", null, _react.default.createElement("p", {
+      return _react.default.createElement("div", {
+        className: 'publish-disabled-message'
+      }, _react.default.createElement("div", {
+        className: 'message'
+      }, _react.default.createElement("p", {
         className: 'text--secondary'
       }, "Publishing is currently disabled."), _react.default.createElement("p", {
         className: 'text--secondary'
-      }, message));
+      }, message)));
     }
   }]);
 
diff --git a/client/scss/all.scss b/client/scss/all.scss
index 6675e5c5..e2da3336 100644
--- a/client/scss/all.scss
+++ b/client/scss/all.scss
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 @import 'containers/_dropzone';
 @import 'containers/_publish-url-input';
 @import 'containers/_publish-status';
+@import 'containers/_publish-disabled-message';
 
 @import '_media-queries';
 
diff --git a/client/scss/containers/_publish-disabled-message.scss b/client/scss/containers/_publish-disabled-message.scss
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..66bdba7c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/scss/containers/_publish-disabled-message.scss
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+.publish-disabled-message {
+  // fill the parent flex container
+  flex: 1 0 auto;
+  // be a flex container for children
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  justify-content: center;
+  .message {
+    text-align: center;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/client/src/containers/PublishDisabledMessage/view.jsx b/client/src/containers/PublishDisabledMessage/view.jsx
index b48271de..355ce75d 100644
--- a/client/src/containers/PublishDisabledMessage/view.jsx
+++ b/client/src/containers/PublishDisabledMessage/view.jsx
@@ -4,9 +4,11 @@ class PublishDisabledMessage extends React.Component {
   render () {
     const message = this.props.message;
     return (
-      <div>
-        <p className={'text--secondary'}>Publishing is currently disabled.</p>
-        <p className={'text--secondary'}>{message}</p>
+      <div className={'publish-disabled-message'}>
+        <div className={'message'}>
+          <p className={'text--secondary'}>Publishing is currently disabled.</p>
+          <p className={'text--secondary'}>{message}</p>
+        </div>
       </div>
     );
   }
diff --git a/server/controllers/api/claim/publish/index.js b/server/controllers/api/claim/publish/index.js
index 15e48ee9..7d42106a 100644
--- a/server/controllers/api/claim/publish/index.js
+++ b/server/controllers/api/claim/publish/index.js
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-const { details: { host } } = require('@config/siteConfig');
+const logger = require('winston');
+
+const { details: { host }, publishing: { disabled, disabledMessage } } = require('@config/siteConfig');
 
 const { sendGATimingEvent } = require('../../../../utils/googleAnalytics.js');
 
@@ -20,6 +22,19 @@ const authenticateUser = require('./authentication.js');
 */
 
 const claimPublish = ({ body, files, headers, ip, originalUrl, user }, res) => {
+  // logging
+  logger.info('PUBLISH REQUEST:', {
+    ip,
+    headers,
+    body,
+  });
+  // check for disabled publishing
+  if (disabled) {
+    return res.status(503).json({
+      success: false,
+      message: disabledMessage
+    });
+  }
   // define variables
   let  channelName, channelId, channelPassword, description, fileName, filePath, fileType, gaStartTime, license, name, nsfw, thumbnail, thumbnailFileName, thumbnailFilePath, thumbnailFileType, title;
   // record the start time of the request
diff --git a/server/controllers/api/config/site/publishing/index.js b/server/controllers/api/config/site/publishing/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..08e60bf3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/controllers/api/config/site/publishing/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+const { publishing: {
+  primaryClaimAddress,
+  uploadDirectory,
+  thumbnailChannel,
+  thumbnailChannelId,
+  additionalClaimAddresses,
+  disabled,
+  disabledMessage
+} } = require('@config/siteConfig');
+
+/*
+
+  route to see if publishing is enabled
+
+*/
+
+const publishingConfig = (req, res) => {
+  return res.status(200).json({
+    primaryClaimAddress,
+    uploadDirectory,
+    thumbnailChannel,
+    thumbnailChannelId,
+    additionalClaimAddresses,
+    disabled,
+    disabledMessage
+  });
+};
+
+module.exports = publishingConfig;
diff --git a/server/routes/api/index.js b/server/routes/api/index.js
index 0aabd472..05c4973c 100644
--- a/server/routes/api/index.js
+++ b/server/routes/api/index.js
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ const claimResolve = require('../../controllers/api/claim/resolve');
 const claimShortId = require('../../controllers/api/claim/shortId');
 const fileAvailability = require('../../controllers/api/file/availability');
 const userPassword = require('../../controllers/api/user/password');
+const publishingConfig = require('../../controllers/api/config/site/publishing');
 
 const multipartMiddleware = require('../utils/multipartMiddleware');
 
@@ -36,4 +37,6 @@ module.exports = (app) => {
   app.get('/api/file/availability/:name/:claimId', fileAvailability);
   // user routes
   app.put('/api/user/password/', userPassword);
+  // configs
+  app.get('/api/config/site/publishing', publishingConfig);
 };