diff --git a/api.lua b/api.lua
index e6fe90e..8d6313f 100644
--- a/api.lua
+++ b/api.lua
@@ -1,9 +1,22 @@
 local hudHandlers = {}
 
+areas.registered_protection_conditions = {}
 areas.registered_on_adds = {}
 areas.registered_on_removes = {}
 areas.registered_on_moves = {}
 
+areas.callback_origins = {}
+
+function areas:registerProtectionCondition(func)
+	table.insert(areas.registered_protection_conditions, func)
+	local debug_info = debug.getinfo(func, "S")
+	areas.callback_origins[func] = {
+		mod = core.get_current_modname() or "??",
+		source = debug_info.short_src or "??",
+		line = debug_info.linedefined or "??"
+	}
+end
+
 function areas:registerOnAdd(func)
 	table.insert(areas.registered_on_adds, func)
 end
diff --git a/api.md b/api.md
index e243a8a..1b38b14 100644
--- a/api.md
+++ b/api.md
@@ -5,11 +5,27 @@ API list
 ---
 
  * `areas:registerHudHandler(handler)` - Registers a handler to add items to the Areas HUD.  See [HUD](#hud).
+ * `areas:registerProtectionCondition(func(pos1, pos2, name))` - 
+See [Protection Conditions](#Protection-Conditions)
  * `areas:registerOnAdd(func(id, area))`
  * `areas:registerOnRemove(func(id))`
  * `areas:registerOnMove(func(id, area, pos1, pos2))`
 
 
+Protection Conditions
+---
+
+With `areas:registerProtectionCondition(func(pos1, pos2, name))`
+you can register rules to control whether to allow or prohibit the creation of an area.
+
+Return values:
+* `true` Forcefully allows the area creation. This overwrites the outcome of any
+  previously executed conditions, including the default ones registered by this mod.
+* `false, errMsg` Disable the creation of the area and return an error message.
+* `nil` (or no return value) Enable the creation of the area,
+  unless specified otherwise by the other registered callbacks.
+
+
 HUD
 ---
 
diff --git a/internal.lua b/internal.lua
index 65cfbe6..a9e16fa 100644
--- a/internal.lua
+++ b/internal.lua
@@ -206,60 +206,90 @@ function areas:getChildren(id)
 	return children
 end
 
--- Checks if the user has sufficient privileges.
--- If the player is not a administrator it also checks
--- if the area intersects other areas that they do not own.
--- Also checks the size of the area and if the user already
--- has more than max_areas.
+-- checks all possible restrictions registered with
+-- areas:registerProtectionCondition
+-- builtin callbacks below
 function areas:canPlayerAddArea(pos1, pos2, name)
+	local allowed = true
+	local errMsg
+	for i=1, #areas.registered_protection_conditions do
+		local res, msg = areas.registered_protection_conditions[i](pos1, pos2, name)
+		if res == true then
+			-- always allow to protect, no matter of other conditions
+			return true
+		elseif res == false then
+			-- there might be another callback that returns true, so we can't break here
+			allowed = false
+			-- save the first error that occurred
+			errMsg = errMsg or msg
+		elseif res ~= nil then
+			local origin = areas.callback_origins[areas.registered_protection_conditions[i]]
+			error("\n[Mod] areas: Invalid api usage from mod '" ..
+					origin.mod .. "' in callback registerProtectionCondition() at " ..
+					origin.source .. ":" .. origin.line)
+		end
+	end
+
+	return allowed, errMsg
+end
+
+-- Checks if the user has sufficient privileges.
+areas:registerProtectionCondition(function(pos1, pos2, name)
 	local privs = minetest.get_player_privs(name)
 	if privs.areas then
+		-- always allow administrators to create areas
 		return true
 	end
 
-	-- Check self protection privilege, if it is enabled,
-	-- and if the area is too big.
-	if not self.config.self_protection or
+	-- Check self protection privilege
+	if not areas.config.self_protection or
 			not privs[areas.config.self_protection_privilege] then
 		return false, S("Self protection is disabled or you do not have"
 				.." the necessary privilege.")
 	end
+end)
 
+-- check if the area is too big
+areas:registerProtectionCondition(function(pos1, pos2, name)
+	local privs = minetest.get_player_privs(name)
 	local max_size = privs.areas_high_limit and
-			self.config.self_protection_max_size_high or
-			self.config.self_protection_max_size
+			areas.config.self_protection_max_size_high or
+			areas.config.self_protection_max_size
 	if
 			(pos2.x - pos1.x + 1) > max_size.x or
 			(pos2.y - pos1.y + 1) > max_size.y or
 			(pos2.z - pos1.z + 1) > max_size.z then
 		return false, S("Area is too big.")
 	end
+end)
 
-	-- Check number of areas the user has and make sure it not above the max
+-- Check number of areas the user has and make sure it not above the max
+areas:registerProtectionCondition(function(pos1, pos2, name)
+	local privs = minetest.get_player_privs(name)
 	local count = 0
-	for _, area in pairs(self.areas) do
+	for _, area in pairs(areas.areas) do
 		if area.owner == name then
 			count = count + 1
 		end
 	end
 	local max_areas = privs.areas_high_limit and
-			self.config.self_protection_max_areas_high or
-			self.config.self_protection_max_areas
+			areas.config.self_protection_max_areas_high or
+			areas.config.self_protection_max_areas
 	if count >= max_areas then
 		return false, S("You have reached the maximum amount of"
 				.." areas that you are allowed to protect.")
 	end
+end)
 
-	-- Check intersecting areas
-	local can, id = self:canInteractInArea(pos1, pos2, name)
+-- checks if the area intersects other areas that the player do not own.
+areas:registerProtectionCondition(function(pos1, pos2, name)
+	local can, id = areas:canInteractInArea(pos1, pos2, name)
 	if not can then
-		local area = self.areas[id]
+		local area = areas.areas[id]
 		return false, S("The area intersects with @1 [@2] (@3).",
 				area.name, id, area.owner)
 	end
-
-	return true
-end
+end)
 
 -- Given a id returns a string in the format:
 -- "name [id]: owner (x1, y1, z1) (x2, y2, z2) -> children"