diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 106c5a3f2..22089d79e 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -10012,7 +10012,6 @@
       "version": "4.3.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/deepmerge/-/deepmerge-4.3.1.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha512-3sUqbMEc77XqpdNO7FRyRog+eW3ph+GYCbj+rK+uYyRMuwsVy0rMiVtPn+QJlKFvWP/1PYpapqYn0Me2knFn+A==",
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "engines": {
         "node": ">=0.10.0"
@@ -15370,6 +15369,26 @@
         "node": ">= 0.6"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/nestjs-zod": {
+      "version": "5.5.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/nestjs-zod/-/nestjs-zod-5.5.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-V0WMtmICygYE2RoMKk8ExEeoetkC7PoUmUlZNP4JNk1YgrnUnG1vgkRn2DBNqsDi+Obv3c9AOssmXe/k/AvBOg==",
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "deepmerge": "^4.3.1"
+      },
+      "peerDependencies": {
+        "@nestjs/common": "^10.0.0 || ^11.0.0",
+        "@nestjs/swagger": "^7.4.2 || ^8.0.0 || ^11.0.0",
+        "rxjs": "^7.0.0",
+        "zod": "^3.25.0 || ^4.0.0"
+      },
+      "peerDependenciesMeta": {
+        "@nestjs/swagger": {
+          "optional": true
+        }
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/node-abi": {
       "version": "3.92.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/node-abi/-/node-abi-3.92.0.tgz",
@@ -21397,6 +21416,7 @@
         "jimp": "^1.6.1",
         "json5": "^2.2.3",
         "jsonwebtoken": "^9.0.2",
+        "nestjs-zod": "^5.5.0",
         "node-cron": "^4.2.1",
         "nodemailer": "^9.0.1",
         "otplib": "^12.0.1",
diff --git a/server/package.json b/server/package.json
index 2c32442bc..435ad19eb 100644
--- a/server/package.json
+++ b/server/package.json
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@
     "jimp": "^1.6.1",
     "json5": "^2.2.3",
     "jsonwebtoken": "^9.0.2",
+    "nestjs-zod": "^5.5.0",
     "node-cron": "^4.2.1",
     "nodemailer": "^9.0.1",
     "otplib": "^12.0.1",
diff --git a/server/src/bootstrap.ts b/server/src/bootstrap.ts
index 4274b25f8..13a087733 100644
--- a/server/src/bootstrap.ts
+++ b/server/src/bootstrap.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import { apiDocsEnabled } from './nest/common/api-docs.kill-switch';
 import { setupApiDocs } from './nest/platform/api-docs';
 import { McpRegistryService } from '@trek/nest-mcp';
 import { setMcpRegistry } from './mcp/registry-handoff';
+import { validateBodyContracts } from './nest/common/validate-body-contracts';
 
 /**
  * Builds the unified TREK NestJS application that serves the ENTIRE surface — the
@@ -61,5 +62,9 @@ export async function buildApp(): Promise<INestApplication> {
   // The /mcp handler is mounted pre-init (step 3) and has no DI access — hand
   // it the boot-discovered registry now that the container is fully built.
   setMcpRegistry(app.get(McpRegistryService));
+  // Fail closed on unvalidated mutation bodies: every POST/PUT/PATCH @Body()
+  // must carry a createZodDto class (validated by the global ZodValidationPipe)
+  // or sit on the ratchet-only legacy allow-list — otherwise refuse to boot.
+  validateBodyContracts(app);
   return app;
 }
diff --git a/server/src/nest/app.module.ts b/server/src/nest/app.module.ts
index 0fd0cb8b3..6e2286bf5 100644
--- a/server/src/nest/app.module.ts
+++ b/server/src/nest/app.module.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { Module } from '@nestjs/common';
-import { APP_FILTER, APP_INTERCEPTOR } from '@nestjs/core';
+import { APP_FILTER, APP_INTERCEPTOR, APP_PIPE } from '@nestjs/core';
+import { ZodValidationPipe } from './common/zod-validation.pipe';
 import { AppConfigModule } from './app-config/app-config.module';
 import { DatabaseModule } from './database/database.module';
 import { HealthController } from './health/health.controller';
@@ -69,6 +70,12 @@ import { IdempotencyInterceptor } from './common/idempotency.interceptor';
     // Replays the X-Idempotency-Key the client sends on every write, matching
     // the legacy applyIdempotency middleware so retried mutations don't double-apply.
     { provide: APP_INTERCEPTOR, useClass: IdempotencyInterceptor },
+    // Global Zod validation: any parameter typed with a createZodDto class
+    // (the <domain>.dto.ts wrappers over @trek/shared schemas) is validated;
+    // everything else passes through untouched. Paired with the boot gate in
+    // common/validate-body-contracts.ts so unvalidated mutation bodies refuse
+    // to boot instead of shipping silently.
+    { provide: APP_PIPE, useClass: ZodValidationPipe },
   ],
 })
 export class AppModule {}
diff --git a/server/src/nest/collections/collections.controller.ts b/server/src/nest/collections/collections.controller.ts
index 593bb213d..d9505468f 100644
--- a/server/src/nest/collections/collections.controller.ts
+++ b/server/src/nest/collections/collections.controller.ts
@@ -27,46 +27,28 @@ import { CollectionsService } from './collections.service';
 import { CollectionsAddonGuard } from './collections-addon.guard';
 import { JwtAuthGuard } from '../auth/jwt-auth.guard';
 import { CurrentUser } from '../auth/current-user.decorator';
-import { ZodValidationPipe } from '../common/zod-validation.pipe';
 import { PLACE_IMAGE_UPLOAD } from '../common/place-image-upload';
 import { placeImageUrl } from '../../services/placeImage';
 import { isDemoEmail } from '../../services/demo';
 import {
-  collectionCreateRequestSchema,
-  collectionUpdateRequestSchema,
-  collectionSavePlaceRequestSchema,
-  collectionSaveFromTripRequestSchema,
-  collectionSaveFromTripManyRequestSchema,
-  collectionPlaceUpdateRequestSchema,
-  collectionSetStatusRequestSchema,
-  placeRatingRequestSchema,
-  collectionCopyToTripRequestSchema,
-  collectionInviteRequestSchema,
-  collectionInviteActionRequestSchema,
-  collectionInviteCancelRequestSchema,
-  collectionRemoveMemberRequestSchema,
-  collectionSetMemberRoleRequestSchema,
-  collectionLabelCreateRequestSchema,
-  collectionLabelUpdateRequestSchema,
-  collectionLabelAssignRequestSchema,
-  type CollectionLabelCreateRequest,
-  type CollectionLabelUpdateRequest,
-  type CollectionLabelAssignRequest,
-  type CollectionCreateRequest,
-  type CollectionUpdateRequest,
-  type CollectionSavePlaceRequest,
-  type CollectionSaveFromTripRequest,
-  type CollectionSaveFromTripManyRequest,
-  type CollectionPlaceUpdateRequest,
-  type CollectionSetStatusRequest,
-  type PlaceRatingRequest,
-  type CollectionCopyToTripRequest,
-  type CollectionInviteRequest,
-  type CollectionInviteActionRequest,
-  type CollectionInviteCancelRequest,
-  type CollectionRemoveMemberRequest,
-  type CollectionSetMemberRoleRequest,
-} from '@trek/shared';
+  CollectionCreateDto,
+  CollectionUpdateDto,
+  CollectionSavePlaceDto,
+  CollectionSaveFromTripDto,
+  CollectionSaveFromTripManyDto,
+  CollectionPlaceUpdateDto,
+  CollectionSetStatusDto,
+  CollectionCopyToTripDto,
+  CollectionInviteDto,
+  CollectionInviteActionDto,
+  CollectionInviteCancelDto,
+  CollectionRemoveMemberDto,
+  CollectionSetMemberRoleDto,
+  CollectionLabelCreateDto,
+  CollectionLabelUpdateDto,
+  CollectionLabelAssignDto,
+} from './collections.dto';
+import { PlaceRatingDto } from '../places/places.dto';
 
 const MAX_COVER_SIZE = 20 * 1024 * 1024;
 const coversDir = path.join(__dirname, '../../../uploads/covers');
@@ -109,7 +91,7 @@ export class CollectionsController {
   }
 
   @Post()
-  create(@CurrentUser() user: User, @Body(new ZodValidationPipe(collectionCreateRequestSchema)) body: CollectionCreateRequest) {
+  create(@CurrentUser() user: User, @Body() body: CollectionCreateDto) {
     return this.collections.createCollection(user.id, body);
   }
 
@@ -126,19 +108,19 @@ export class CollectionsController {
   // ── Places (static prefixes before /:id) ────────────────────────────────────
   @Post('places')
   @HttpCode(200)
-  savePlace(@CurrentUser() user: User, @Body(new ZodValidationPipe(collectionSavePlaceRequestSchema)) body: CollectionSavePlaceRequest, @Headers('x-socket-id') socketId?: string) {
+  savePlace(@CurrentUser() user: User, @Body() body: CollectionSavePlaceDto, @Headers('x-socket-id') socketId?: string) {
     return this.collections.savePlace(user.id, body, socketId);
   }
 
   @Post('places/from-trip')
   @HttpCode(200)
-  saveFromTrip(@CurrentUser() user: User, @Body(new ZodValidationPipe(collectionSaveFromTripRequestSchema)) body: CollectionSaveFromTripRequest) {
+  saveFromTrip(@CurrentUser() user: User, @Body() body: CollectionSaveFromTripDto) {
     return this.collections.saveFromTripPlace(user.id, body.collection_id, body.source_trip_id, body.source_place_id, body.force);
   }
 
   @Post('places/from-trip-many')
   @HttpCode(200)
-  saveFromTripMany(@CurrentUser() user: User, @Body(new ZodValidationPipe(collectionSaveFromTripManyRequestSchema)) body: CollectionSaveFromTripManyRequest) {
+  saveFromTripMany(@CurrentUser() user: User, @Body() body: CollectionSaveFromTripManyDto) {
     return this.collections.saveFromTripPlaces(user.id, body.collection_id, body.source_trip_id, body.source_place_ids, body.force);
   }
 
@@ -155,7 +137,7 @@ export class CollectionsController {
   updatePlace(
     @CurrentUser() user: User,
     @Param('pid') pid: string,
-    @Body(new ZodValidationPipe(collectionPlaceUpdateRequestSchema)) body: CollectionPlaceUpdateRequest,
+    @Body() body: CollectionPlaceUpdateDto,
     @Headers('x-socket-id') socketId?: string,
   ) {
     return this.collections.updatePlace(user.id, Number(pid), body, socketId);
@@ -166,7 +148,7 @@ export class CollectionsController {
   setStatus(
     @CurrentUser() user: User,
     @Param('pid') pid: string,
-    @Body(new ZodValidationPipe(collectionSetStatusRequestSchema)) body: CollectionSetStatusRequest,
+    @Body() body: CollectionSetStatusDto,
     @Headers('x-socket-id') socketId?: string,
   ) {
     return this.collections.setStatus(user.id, Number(pid), body.status, socketId);
@@ -176,7 +158,7 @@ export class CollectionsController {
   setRating(
     @CurrentUser() user: User,
     @Param('pid') pid: string,
-    @Body(new ZodValidationPipe(placeRatingRequestSchema)) body: PlaceRatingRequest,
+    @Body() body: PlaceRatingDto,
     @Headers('x-socket-id') socketId?: string,
   ) {
     return this.collections.setRating(user.id, Number(pid), body.rating, socketId);
@@ -212,7 +194,7 @@ export class CollectionsController {
   // ── Copy to trip ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
   @Post('copy-to-trip')
   @HttpCode(200)
-  copyToTrip(@CurrentUser() user: User, @Body(new ZodValidationPipe(collectionCopyToTripRequestSchema)) body: CollectionCopyToTripRequest) {
+  copyToTrip(@CurrentUser() user: User, @Body() body: CollectionCopyToTripDto) {
     return this.collections.copyToTrip(user.id, body);
   }
 
@@ -221,7 +203,7 @@ export class CollectionsController {
   @HttpCode(200)
   createLabel(
     @CurrentUser() user: User,
-    @Body(new ZodValidationPipe(collectionLabelCreateRequestSchema)) body: CollectionLabelCreateRequest,
+    @Body() body: CollectionLabelCreateDto,
     @Headers('x-socket-id') socketId?: string,
   ) {
     return this.collections.createLabel(user.id, body.collection_id, body.name, body.color, socketId);
@@ -231,7 +213,7 @@ export class CollectionsController {
   updateLabel(
     @CurrentUser() user: User,
     @Param('lid') lid: string,
-    @Body(new ZodValidationPipe(collectionLabelUpdateRequestSchema)) body: CollectionLabelUpdateRequest,
+    @Body() body: CollectionLabelUpdateDto,
     @Headers('x-socket-id') socketId?: string,
   ) {
     return this.collections.updateLabel(user.id, Number(lid), body, socketId);
@@ -247,7 +229,7 @@ export class CollectionsController {
   @HttpCode(200)
   assignLabels(
     @CurrentUser() user: User,
-    @Body(new ZodValidationPipe(collectionLabelAssignRequestSchema)) body: CollectionLabelAssignRequest,
+    @Body() body: CollectionLabelAssignDto,
     @Headers('x-socket-id') socketId?: string,
   ) {
     return this.collections.assignLabels(user.id, body.label_ids, body.place_ids, false, socketId);
@@ -257,7 +239,7 @@ export class CollectionsController {
   @HttpCode(200)
   unassignLabels(
     @CurrentUser() user: User,
-    @Body(new ZodValidationPipe(collectionLabelAssignRequestSchema)) body: CollectionLabelAssignRequest,
+    @Body() body: CollectionLabelAssignDto,
     @Headers('x-socket-id') socketId?: string,
   ) {
     return this.collections.assignLabels(user.id, body.label_ids, body.place_ids, true, socketId);
@@ -285,7 +267,7 @@ export class CollectionsController {
   // ── Fusion invitations ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
   @Post('invite')
   @HttpCode(200)
-  invite(@CurrentUser() user: User, @Body(new ZodValidationPipe(collectionInviteRequestSchema)) body: CollectionInviteRequest) {
+  invite(@CurrentUser() user: User, @Body() body: CollectionInviteDto) {
     this.collections.assertAccess(user.id, body.collection_id); // 404 if not visible (no enumeration)
     if (!this.collections.isOwner(user.id, body.collection_id)) {
       throw new HttpException({ error: 'Only the owner can invite' }, 403);
@@ -299,7 +281,7 @@ export class CollectionsController {
 
   @Post('invite/accept')
   @HttpCode(200)
-  acceptInvite(@CurrentUser() user: User, @Body(new ZodValidationPipe(collectionInviteActionRequestSchema)) body: CollectionInviteActionRequest, @Headers('x-socket-id') socketId?: string) {
+  acceptInvite(@CurrentUser() user: User, @Body() body: CollectionInviteActionDto, @Headers('x-socket-id') socketId?: string) {
     const result = this.collections.acceptInvite(user.id, body.collection_id, socketId);
     if (result.error) {
       throw new HttpException({ error: result.error }, result.status!);
@@ -309,14 +291,14 @@ export class CollectionsController {
 
   @Post('invite/decline')
   @HttpCode(200)
-  declineInvite(@CurrentUser() user: User, @Body(new ZodValidationPipe(collectionInviteActionRequestSchema)) body: CollectionInviteActionRequest, @Headers('x-socket-id') socketId?: string) {
+  declineInvite(@CurrentUser() user: User, @Body() body: CollectionInviteActionDto, @Headers('x-socket-id') socketId?: string) {
     this.collections.declineInvite(user.id, body.collection_id, socketId);
     return { success: true };
   }
 
   @Post('invite/cancel')
   @HttpCode(200)
-  cancelInvite(@CurrentUser() user: User, @Body(new ZodValidationPipe(collectionInviteCancelRequestSchema)) body: CollectionInviteCancelRequest) {
+  cancelInvite(@CurrentUser() user: User, @Body() body: CollectionInviteCancelDto) {
     this.collections.assertAccess(user.id, body.collection_id); // 404 if not visible
     if (!this.collections.isOwner(user.id, body.collection_id)) {
       throw new HttpException({ error: 'Only the owner can cancel invites' }, 403);
@@ -327,14 +309,14 @@ export class CollectionsController {
 
   @Post('leave')
   @HttpCode(200)
-  leave(@CurrentUser() user: User, @Body(new ZodValidationPipe(collectionInviteActionRequestSchema)) body: CollectionInviteActionRequest, @Headers('x-socket-id') socketId?: string) {
+  leave(@CurrentUser() user: User, @Body() body: CollectionInviteActionDto, @Headers('x-socket-id') socketId?: string) {
     this.collections.leaveCollection(user.id, body.collection_id, socketId);
     return { success: true };
   }
 
   @Post('members/remove')
   @HttpCode(200)
-  removeMember(@CurrentUser() user: User, @Body(new ZodValidationPipe(collectionRemoveMemberRequestSchema)) body: CollectionRemoveMemberRequest) {
+  removeMember(@CurrentUser() user: User, @Body() body: CollectionRemoveMemberDto) {
     this.collections.assertAccess(user.id, body.collection_id); // 404 if not visible
     if (!this.collections.isOwner(user.id, body.collection_id)) {
       throw new HttpException({ error: 'Only the owner can remove members' }, 403);
@@ -345,7 +327,7 @@ export class CollectionsController {
 
   @Post('members/role')
   @HttpCode(200)
-  setMemberRole(@CurrentUser() user: User, @Body(new ZodValidationPipe(collectionSetMemberRoleRequestSchema)) body: CollectionSetMemberRoleRequest) {
+  setMemberRole(@CurrentUser() user: User, @Body() body: CollectionSetMemberRoleDto) {
     this.collections.assertAccess(user.id, body.collection_id); // 404 if not visible
     if (!this.collections.isOwner(user.id, body.collection_id)) {
       throw new HttpException({ error: 'Only the owner can change member roles' }, 403);
@@ -381,7 +363,7 @@ export class CollectionsController {
   }
 
   @Patch(':id')
-  update(@CurrentUser() user: User, @Param('id') id: string, @Body(new ZodValidationPipe(collectionUpdateRequestSchema)) body: CollectionUpdateRequest, @Headers('x-socket-id') socketId?: string) {
+  update(@CurrentUser() user: User, @Param('id') id: string, @Body() body: CollectionUpdateDto, @Headers('x-socket-id') socketId?: string) {
     return this.collections.updateCollection(user.id, Number(id), body, socketId);
   }
 
diff --git a/server/src/nest/collections/collections.dto.ts b/server/src/nest/collections/collections.dto.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4b4bf2d44
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/src/nest/collections/collections.dto.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+import { createZodDto } from 'nestjs-zod';
+import {
+  collectionCreateRequestSchema,
+  collectionUpdateRequestSchema,
+  collectionSavePlaceRequestSchema,
+  collectionSaveFromTripRequestSchema,
+  collectionSaveFromTripManyRequestSchema,
+  collectionPlaceUpdateRequestSchema,
+  collectionSetStatusRequestSchema,
+  collectionCopyToTripRequestSchema,
+  collectionInviteRequestSchema,
+  collectionInviteActionRequestSchema,
+  collectionInviteCancelRequestSchema,
+  collectionRemoveMemberRequestSchema,
+  collectionSetMemberRoleRequestSchema,
+  collectionLabelCreateRequestSchema,
+  collectionLabelUpdateRequestSchema,
+  collectionLabelAssignRequestSchema,
+} from '@trek/shared';
+
+/**
+ * Server-side createZodDto wrappers over the @trek/shared collections
+ * contracts. Typing a controller parameter with one of these classes is what
+ * lets the global ZodValidationPipe (APP_PIPE) validate it by metatype — the
+ * Zod schemas in shared/ remain the single source of truth for the contract.
+ */
+
+export class CollectionCreateDto extends createZodDto(collectionCreateRequestSchema) {}
+export class CollectionUpdateDto extends createZodDto(collectionUpdateRequestSchema) {}
+export class CollectionSavePlaceDto extends createZodDto(collectionSavePlaceRequestSchema) {}
+export class CollectionSaveFromTripDto extends createZodDto(collectionSaveFromTripRequestSchema) {}
+export class CollectionSaveFromTripManyDto extends createZodDto(collectionSaveFromTripManyRequestSchema) {}
+export class CollectionPlaceUpdateDto extends createZodDto(collectionPlaceUpdateRequestSchema) {}
+export class CollectionSetStatusDto extends createZodDto(collectionSetStatusRequestSchema) {}
+export class CollectionCopyToTripDto extends createZodDto(collectionCopyToTripRequestSchema) {}
+export class CollectionInviteDto extends createZodDto(collectionInviteRequestSchema) {}
+export class CollectionInviteActionDto extends createZodDto(collectionInviteActionRequestSchema) {}
+export class CollectionInviteCancelDto extends createZodDto(collectionInviteCancelRequestSchema) {}
+export class CollectionRemoveMemberDto extends createZodDto(collectionRemoveMemberRequestSchema) {}
+export class CollectionSetMemberRoleDto extends createZodDto(collectionSetMemberRoleRequestSchema) {}
+export class CollectionLabelCreateDto extends createZodDto(collectionLabelCreateRequestSchema) {}
+export class CollectionLabelUpdateDto extends createZodDto(collectionLabelUpdateRequestSchema) {}
+export class CollectionLabelAssignDto extends createZodDto(collectionLabelAssignRequestSchema) {}
diff --git a/server/src/nest/common/api-zod.ts b/server/src/nest/common/api-zod.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index f1c85248d..000000000
--- a/server/src/nest/common/api-zod.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,87 +0,0 @@
-import type { INestApplication } from '@nestjs/common';
-import { RequestMethod } from '@nestjs/common';
-import { ModulesContainer } from '@nestjs/core';
-import { PATH_METADATA, METHOD_METADATA, ROUTE_ARGS_METADATA } from '@nestjs/common/constants';
-import { z, type ZodType } from 'zod';
-import type { OpenAPIObject } from '@nestjs/swagger';
-import { ZodValidationPipe } from './zod-validation.pipe';
-
-/**
- * Phase 2 of #1412: real request-body schemas without annotating anything
- * twice. The API validates with Zod via `@Body(new ZodValidationPipe(schema))`
- * — that pipe IS the schema source of truth, so this enricher walks every
- * controller route, finds full-body Zod pipes, and writes the converted
- * JSON schema into the generated OpenAPI document. Any route that gains a
- * ZodValidationPipe is documented automatically from then on.
- */
-
-/** Zod → OpenAPI 3.0 schema; degrades to a bare object for unrepresentable schemas. */
-export function zodToOpenApi(schema: ZodType): Record<string, unknown> {
-  try {
-    return z.toJSONSchema(schema, { target: 'openapi-3.0', io: 'input', unrepresentable: 'any' }) as Record<string, unknown>;
-  } catch {
-    return { type: 'object' };
-  }
-}
-
-const HTTP_METHOD: Partial<Record<RequestMethod, string>> = {
-  [RequestMethod.GET]: 'get',
-  [RequestMethod.POST]: 'post',
-  [RequestMethod.PUT]: 'put',
-  [RequestMethod.PATCH]: 'patch',
-  [RequestMethod.DELETE]: 'delete',
-};
-
-// RouteParamtypes.BODY — the numeric key prefix @Body() writes into
-// ROUTE_ARGS_METADATA ("<paramtype>:<index>"). The enum lives in a private
-// @nestjs/common path, so the value is pinned here with a boot-time test.
-const BODY_PARAMTYPE = '3';
-
-function joinPath(base: string | undefined, sub: string | undefined): string {
-  const parts = `${base ?? ''}/${sub ?? ''}`.split('/').filter(Boolean);
-  // Express ":param" → OpenAPI "{param}"
-  return '/' + parts.map((p) => (p.startsWith(':') ? `{${p.slice(1)}}` : p)).join('/');
-}
-
-/** Find full-body Zod schemas per route and merge them into the document. */
-export function attachZodBodySchemas(app: INestApplication, document: OpenAPIObject): void {
-  const modules = app.get(ModulesContainer, { strict: false });
-  for (const module of modules.values()) {
-    for (const wrapper of module.controllers.values()) {
-      const ctor = wrapper.metatype as (abstract new (...args: never[]) => unknown) | undefined;
-      if (!ctor || typeof ctor !== 'function') continue;
-      const basePath = Reflect.getMetadata(PATH_METADATA, ctor) as string | undefined;
-      if (basePath === undefined) continue;
-
-      for (const name of Object.getOwnPropertyNames(ctor.prototype)) {
-        if (name === 'constructor') continue;
-        const handler = (ctor.prototype as Record<string, unknown>)[name];
-        if (typeof handler !== 'function') continue;
-        const methodEnum = Reflect.getMetadata(METHOD_METADATA, handler) as RequestMethod | undefined;
-        const verb = methodEnum !== undefined ? HTTP_METHOD[methodEnum] : undefined;
-        if (!verb) continue;
-
-        const args = (Reflect.getMetadata(ROUTE_ARGS_METADATA, ctor, name) ?? {}) as Record<
-          string,
-          { index: number; data?: unknown; pipes?: unknown[] }
-        >;
-        const bodyArg = Object.entries(args).find(([key, meta]) =>
-          key.startsWith(`${BODY_PARAMTYPE}:`)
-          // @Body('field') picks a sub-field — only whole-body pipes describe the request body
-          && meta.data === undefined
-          && (meta.pipes ?? []).some((p) => p instanceof ZodValidationPipe),
-        );
-        if (!bodyArg) continue;
-        const zodPipe = (bodyArg[1].pipes ?? []).find((p): p is ZodValidationPipe => p instanceof ZodValidationPipe)!;
-
-        const route = document.paths[joinPath(basePath, Reflect.getMetadata(PATH_METADATA, handler) as string | undefined)];
-        const operation = route?.[verb as 'get' | 'post' | 'put' | 'patch' | 'delete'];
-        if (!operation) continue;
-        operation.requestBody = {
-          required: true,
-          content: { 'application/json': { schema: zodToOpenApi(zodPipe.schema) } },
-        };
-      }
-    }
-  }
-}
diff --git a/server/src/nest/common/body-contract-allow-list.ts b/server/src/nest/common/body-contract-allow-list.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ad2679ae3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/src/nest/common/body-contract-allow-list.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,186 @@
+/**
+ * Legacy mutation handlers that still read @Body() without a createZodDto
+ * class — grandfathered when the fail-closed boot gate landed
+ * (validate-body-contracts.ts). Entries are `ControllerClass.methodName`.
+ *
+ * RATCHET ONLY: never add an entry. When a domain migrates, wrap its
+ * @trek/shared schema in a colocated <domain>.dto.ts and DELETE the routes
+ * here — the gate throws on stale entries, so removal is enforced too.
+ */
+export const BODY_CONTRACT_ALLOW_LIST: string[] = [
+  'AccommodationsController.create',
+  'AccommodationsController.update',
+  'AdminController.createInvite',
+  'AdminController.createPackingTemplate',
+  'AdminController.createTemplateCategory',
+  'AdminController.createTemplateItem',
+  'AdminController.createUser',
+  'AdminController.devTestNotification',
+  'AdminController.savePermissions',
+  'AdminController.setDefaultUserSettings',
+  'AdminController.setNotificationPrefs',
+  'AdminController.updateAddon',
+  'AdminController.updateBagTracking',
+  'AdminController.updateCollabFeatures',
+  'AdminController.updateOidc',
+  'AdminController.updatePackingTemplate',
+  'AdminController.updatePlacesAutocomplete',
+  'AdminController.updatePlacesDetails',
+  'AdminController.updatePlacesPhotos',
+  'AdminController.updateTemplateCategory',
+  'AdminController.updateTemplateItem',
+  'AdminController.updateUser',
+  'AssignmentOpsController.move',
+  'AssignmentOpsController.setParticipants',
+  'AssignmentOpsController.time',
+  'AssignmentOpsController.transport',
+  'AtlasController.createBucketItem',
+  'AtlasController.markRegion',
+  'AtlasController.updateBucketItem',
+  'AuthController.apiKeys',
+  'AuthController.changePassword',
+  'AuthController.createMcpToken',
+  'AuthController.mapsKey',
+  'AuthController.mfaDisable',
+  'AuthController.mfaEnable',
+  'AuthController.resourceToken',
+  'AuthController.updateAppSettings',
+  'AuthController.updateSettings',
+  'AuthPublicController.forgotPassword',
+  'AuthPublicController.login',
+  'AuthPublicController.register',
+  'AuthPublicController.resetPassword',
+  'AuthPublicController.verifyMfaLogin',
+  'BackupController.updateAutoSettings',
+  'BookingImportController.confirm',
+  'BookingImportController.preview',
+  'BookingImportController.previewAsync',
+  'BudgetController.create',
+  'BudgetController.createSettlement',
+  'BudgetController.reorderCategories',
+  'BudgetController.reorderItems',
+  'BudgetController.setPayers',
+  'BudgetController.toggleMemberPaid',
+  'BudgetController.update',
+  'BudgetController.updateMembers',
+  'BudgetController.updateSettlement',
+  'CategoriesController.create',
+  'CategoriesController.update',
+  'CollabController.createMessage',
+  'CollabController.createNote',
+  'CollabController.createPoll',
+  'CollabController.react',
+  'CollabController.updateNote',
+  'CollabController.votePoll',
+  'CollectionsController.deleteMany',
+  'CollectionsController.reorder',
+  'DayAssignmentsController.create',
+  'DayAssignmentsController.reorder',
+  'DayNotesController.create',
+  'DayNotesController.update',
+  'DaysController.create',
+  'DaysController.reorder',
+  'DaysController.transport',
+  'DaysController.update',
+  'FilesController.link',
+  'FilesController.update',
+  'FilesController.upload',
+  'ImmichMemoriesController.putSettings',
+  'ImmichMemoriesController.search',
+  'ImmichMemoriesController.test',
+  'JourneyController.addContributor',
+  'JourneyController.addTrip',
+  'JourneyController.create',
+  'JourneyController.createEntry',
+  'JourneyController.galleryProviderPhotos',
+  'JourneyController.linkPhoto',
+  'JourneyController.preferences',
+  'JourneyController.providerPhotos',
+  'JourneyController.reorderEntries',
+  'JourneyController.setShareLink',
+  'JourneyController.update',
+  'JourneyController.updateContributor',
+  'JourneyController.updateEntry',
+  'JourneyController.updatePhoto',
+  'JourneyController.uploadEntryPhotos',
+  'JourneyController.uploadGalleryVideo',
+  'LlmLocalController.pull',
+  'MapsController.autocomplete',
+  'MapsController.resolveUrl',
+  'MapsController.search',
+  'NotificationsController.respond',
+  'NotificationsController.setPreferences',
+  'NotificationsController.testNtfy',
+  'NotificationsController.testSmtp',
+  'NotificationsController.testWebhook',
+  'OauthApiController.authorize',
+  'OauthApiController.createClient',
+  'PackingController.applyTemplate',
+  'PackingController.create',
+  'PackingController.createBag',
+  'PackingController.importItems',
+  'PackingController.reorder',
+  'PackingController.saveAsTemplate',
+  'PackingController.setBagMembers',
+  'PackingController.setSharing',
+  'PackingController.update',
+  'PackingController.updateBag',
+  'PackingController.updateCategoryAssignees',
+  'PasskeyController.loginVerify',
+  'PasskeyController.registerOptions',
+  'PasskeyController.registerVerify',
+  'PasskeyController.rename',
+  'PlacesController.bulkDelete',
+  'PlacesController.bulkUpdate',
+  'PlacesController.create',
+  'PlacesController.importGoogle',
+  'PlacesController.importGpx',
+  'PlacesController.importMap',
+  'PlacesController.importNaver',
+  'PlacesController.update',
+  'PluginRoutesController.route',
+  'PluginUserSettingsController.update',
+  'PluginsController.activate',
+  'PluginsController.install',
+  'PluginsController.link',
+  'PluginsController.retrust',
+  'PluginsController.setEgressHosts',
+  'PluginsController.uninstall',
+  'PluginsController.updateConfig',
+  'ReservationsController.create',
+  'ReservationsController.update',
+  'ReservationsController.updatePositions',
+  'ReservationsController.updateTravelers',
+  'SettingsController.bulk',
+  'SettingsController.upsert',
+  'SynologyMemoriesController.putSettings',
+  'SynologyMemoriesController.search',
+  'SynologyMemoriesController.test',
+  'TagsController.create',
+  'TagsController.update',
+  'TripInviteLinkController.create',
+  'TripShareController.create',
+  'TripsController.addMember',
+  'TripsController.copy',
+  'TripsController.create',
+  'TripsController.createGuest',
+  'TripsController.renameGuest',
+  'TripsController.transferOwnership',
+  'TripsController.update',
+  'UnifiedMemoriesController.addPhotos',
+  'UnifiedMemoriesController.createAlbumLink',
+  'UnifiedMemoriesController.setSharing',
+  'VacayController.acceptInvite',
+  'VacayController.addHolidayCalendar',
+  'VacayController.addYear',
+  'VacayController.cancelInvite',
+  'VacayController.companyHoliday',
+  'VacayController.declineInvite',
+  'VacayController.invite',
+  'VacayController.setColor',
+  'VacayController.share',
+  'VacayController.toggleEntry',
+  'VacayController.updateHolidayCalendar',
+  'VacayController.updatePlan',
+  'VacayController.updateStats',
+];
diff --git a/server/src/nest/common/validate-body-contracts.ts b/server/src/nest/common/validate-body-contracts.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..dccd22f60
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/src/nest/common/validate-body-contracts.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+import type { INestApplication } from '@nestjs/common';
+import { RequestMethod } from '@nestjs/common';
+import { METHOD_METADATA, ROUTE_ARGS_METADATA } from '@nestjs/common/constants';
+import { RouteParamtypes } from '@nestjs/common/enums/route-paramtypes.enum';
+import { ModulesContainer } from '@nestjs/core';
+import { isZodDto } from 'nestjs-zod/dto';
+import { BODY_CONTRACT_ALLOW_LIST } from './body-contract-allow-list';
+
+const MUTATION_METHODS = new Set<RequestMethod>([
+  RequestMethod.POST,
+  RequestMethod.PUT,
+  RequestMethod.PATCH,
+]);
+
+/**
+ * Boot-time fail-closed gate: every POST/PUT/PATCH handler that reads the
+ * request body (@Body() / @Body('field')) must type it with a
+ * `createZodDto(...)` class so the global ZodValidationPipe actually validates
+ * it — or be explicitly listed in body-contract-allow-list.ts (legacy routes
+ * whose domains have not migrated yet; the list only ratchets down).
+ *
+ * Called from buildApp() right after app.init() (same seam as the MCP registry
+ * handoff), so a maintainer who adds an unvalidated mutation route gets a
+ * refused boot in dev and CI instead of silently shipping an unvalidated
+ * endpoint. Same philosophy as McpRegistryService.validate(): misconfiguration
+ * breaks app boot, not runtime requests.
+ *
+ * A stale allow-list entry (route removed or migrated) also throws, so the
+ * list cannot quietly over-allow.
+ */
+export function validateBodyContracts(
+  app: INestApplication,
+  allowList: readonly string[] = BODY_CONTRACT_ALLOW_LIST,
+): void {
+  const modules = app.get(ModulesContainer, { strict: false });
+  const offenders: string[] = [];
+  const seen = new Set<string>();
+
+  for (const module of modules.values()) {
+    for (const wrapper of module.controllers.values()) {
+      const ctor = wrapper.metatype as (abstract new (...args: never[]) => unknown) | undefined;
+      if (!ctor || typeof ctor !== 'function') continue;
+
+      for (const name of Object.getOwnPropertyNames(ctor.prototype)) {
+        if (name === 'constructor') continue;
+        const handler = (ctor.prototype as Record<string, unknown>)[name];
+        if (typeof handler !== 'function') continue;
+        const methodEnum = Reflect.getMetadata(METHOD_METADATA, handler) as RequestMethod | undefined;
+        if (methodEnum === undefined || !MUTATION_METHODS.has(methodEnum)) continue;
+
+        const args = (Reflect.getMetadata(ROUTE_ARGS_METADATA, ctor, name) ?? {}) as Record<
+          string,
+          { index: number }
+        >;
+        const paramtypes = (Reflect.getMetadata('design:paramtypes', ctor.prototype, name) ?? []) as unknown[];
+
+        for (const key of Object.keys(args)) {
+          // ROUTE_ARGS_METADATA keys are `${paramtype}:${index}` for built-in
+          // decorators; custom decorators (@CurrentUser) use a different shape
+          // and never parse to the BODY paramtype.
+          const paramtype = Number(key.split(':')[0]);
+          if (paramtype !== (RouteParamtypes.BODY as number)) continue;
+
+          const route = `${ctor.name}.${name}`;
+          if (seen.has(route)) continue;
+          seen.add(route);
+
+          const metatype = paramtypes[args[key].index];
+          if (typeof metatype === 'function' && isZodDto(metatype)) continue;
+          offenders.push(route);
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  const allowed = new Set(allowList);
+  const violations = offenders.filter((route) => !allowed.has(route));
+  const stale = allowList.filter((route) => !offenders.includes(route));
+
+  const problems: string[] = [];
+  if (violations.length) {
+    problems.push(
+      `${violations.length} mutation handler(s) read @Body() without a createZodDto class ` +
+        `(add a <domain>.dto.ts wrapper over the @trek/shared schema — do NOT extend the allow-list): ` +
+        violations.sort().join(', '),
+    );
+  }
+  if (stale.length) {
+    problems.push(
+      `stale body-contract allow-list entr${stale.length === 1 ? 'y' : 'ies'} ` +
+        `(route removed or now validated — delete from body-contract-allow-list.ts): ` +
+        stale.sort().join(', '),
+    );
+  }
+  if (problems.length) {
+    throw new Error(`Unvalidated body contracts: ${problems.join('; ')}`);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/server/src/nest/common/zod-validation.pipe.ts b/server/src/nest/common/zod-validation.pipe.ts
index bfb0207c5..c60abc298 100644
--- a/server/src/nest/common/zod-validation.pipe.ts
+++ b/server/src/nest/common/zod-validation.pipe.ts
@@ -1,28 +1,43 @@
-import { ArgumentMetadata, HttpException, Injectable, PipeTransform } from '@nestjs/common';
-import type { ZodType } from 'zod';
+import { HttpException } from '@nestjs/common';
+import { createZodValidationPipe } from 'nestjs-zod';
 
 /**
- * Validates an incoming @Body()/@Query() against a Zod schema (from @trek/shared)
- * and returns the parsed, typed value. On failure it throws TREK's error envelope
- * `{ error: string }` with status 400 — the same shape the legacy routes produce,
- * so the client's error handling is unaffected.
+ * TREK's Zod validation pipe, built on nestjs-zod so it works in BOTH modes:
  *
- * Usage: `@Body(new ZodValidationPipe(someSchema)) dto: Dto`.
+ *  - **Global** (`APP_PIPE` in AppModule): validates every parameter whose
+ *    metatype is a `createZodDto(...)` class (the `<domain>.dto.ts` wrappers
+ *    over the @trek/shared schemas) and passes everything else through
+ *    untouched — legacy untyped bodies keep their exact behavior until their
+ *    domain migrates. The boot gate in `validate-body-contracts.ts` is what
+ *    makes forgetting a DTO fail closed.
+ *  - **Per-parameter** (`@Body(new ZodValidationPipe(schema))`): still accepts
+ *    an explicit schema/DTO for one-off cases.
+ *
+ * On failure it throws TREK's error envelope `{ error: string }` with status
+ * 400 — the same shape the legacy routes produce (`field: message; ...`,
+ * root-level issues labeled `body`), so the client's error handling and the
+ * pinned test assertions are unaffected by the nestjs-zod migration.
  */
-@Injectable()
-export class ZodValidationPipe implements PipeTransform {
-  // Public so the API-docs enricher can lift the schema into the OpenAPI
-  // document (#1412) — the pipe stays the single source of truth.
-  constructor(readonly schema: ZodType) {}
-
-  transform(value: unknown, _metadata: ArgumentMetadata): unknown {
-    const result = this.schema.safeParse(value);
-    if (!result.success) {
-      const message = result.error.issues
-        .map((i) => `${i.path.join('.') || 'body'}: ${i.message}`)
-        .join('; ');
-      throw new HttpException({ error: message }, 400);
-    }
-    return result.data;
-  }
+interface ZodIssueLike {
+  path: (string | number | symbol)[];
+  message: string;
 }
+
+function isZodErrorLike(error: unknown): error is { issues: ZodIssueLike[] } {
+  return (
+    typeof error === 'object' && error !== null &&
+    Array.isArray((error as { issues?: unknown }).issues)
+  );
+}
+
+export const ZodValidationPipe = createZodValidationPipe({
+  createValidationException: (error: unknown): Error => {
+    if (isZodErrorLike(error)) {
+      const message = error.issues
+        .map((i) => `${i.path.map(String).join('.') || 'body'}: ${i.message}`)
+        .join('; ');
+      return new HttpException({ error: message }, 400);
+    }
+    return new HttpException({ error: 'Validation failed' }, 400);
+  },
+});
diff --git a/server/src/nest/health/health.controller.ts b/server/src/nest/health/health.controller.ts
index e4c907d39..63db5cd23 100644
--- a/server/src/nest/health/health.controller.ts
+++ b/server/src/nest/health/health.controller.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,16 @@
 import { Body, Controller, Get, Post, UseGuards } from '@nestjs/common';
 import { z } from 'zod';
+import { createZodDto } from 'nestjs-zod';
 import type { User } from '../../types';
 import { HealthService } from './health.service';
 import { JwtAuthGuard } from '../auth/jwt-auth.guard';
 import { CurrentUser } from '../auth/current-user.decorator';
-import { ZodValidationPipe } from '../common/zod-validation.pipe';
 
-// Local demo schema (real domains import their schema from @trek/shared).
+// Local demo schema (real domains import their schema from @trek/shared and
+// wrap it in a colocated <domain>.dto.ts). The DTO class is what the global
+// ZodValidationPipe (APP_PIPE) discovers by metatype.
 const echoSchema = z.object({ name: z.string().min(1) });
+class EchoDto extends createZodDto(echoSchema) {}
 
 /**
  * Foundation smoke endpoints for the co-hosted NestJS app.
@@ -32,10 +35,10 @@ export class HealthController {
     return user;
   }
 
-  /** Validated: proves the Zod pipe (400 + { error } on failure) and body parsing. */
+  /** Validated: proves the global Zod pipe (400 + { error } on failure) and body parsing. */
   @Post('echo')
   @UseGuards(JwtAuthGuard)
-  echo(@Body(new ZodValidationPipe(echoSchema)) body: z.infer<typeof echoSchema>) {
+  echo(@Body() body: EchoDto) {
     return { youSent: body };
   }
 }
diff --git a/server/src/nest/integrations/airtrail-import.controller.ts b/server/src/nest/integrations/airtrail-import.controller.ts
index 82f5dbda6..a0ded35e2 100644
--- a/server/src/nest/integrations/airtrail-import.controller.ts
+++ b/server/src/nest/integrations/airtrail-import.controller.ts
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@ import { Body, Controller, Headers, HttpException, Param, Post, UseGuards } from
 import type { User } from '../../types';
 import { JwtAuthGuard } from '../auth/jwt-auth.guard';
 import { CurrentUser } from '../auth/current-user.decorator';
-import { ZodValidationPipe } from '../common/zod-validation.pipe';
 import { AirtrailAddonGuard } from './airtrail-addon.guard';
-import { airtrailImportSchema, type AirtrailImport, type AirtrailImportResult } from '@trek/shared';
+import { AirtrailImportDto } from './airtrail.dto';
+import type { AirtrailImportResult } from '@trek/shared';
 import { verifyTripAccess } from '../../services/tripAccess';
 import { checkPermission } from '../../services/permissions';
 import { importAirtrailFlights } from '../../services/airtrail/airtrailImport';
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ export class AirtrailImportController {
   async importAirtrail(
     @CurrentUser() user: User,
     @Param('tripId') tripId: string,
-    @Body(new ZodValidationPipe(airtrailImportSchema)) body: AirtrailImport,
+    @Body() body: AirtrailImportDto,
     @Headers('x-socket-id') socketId?: string,
   ): Promise<AirtrailImportResult> {
     this.requireEdit(tripId, user);
diff --git a/server/src/nest/integrations/airtrail.controller.ts b/server/src/nest/integrations/airtrail.controller.ts
index 1261abb64..b2a360ef9 100644
--- a/server/src/nest/integrations/airtrail.controller.ts
+++ b/server/src/nest/integrations/airtrail.controller.ts
@@ -3,10 +3,9 @@ import type { Request } from 'express';
 import type { User } from '../../types';
 import { JwtAuthGuard } from '../auth/jwt-auth.guard';
 import { CurrentUser } from '../auth/current-user.decorator';
-import { ZodValidationPipe } from '../common/zod-validation.pipe';
 import { AirtrailAddonGuard } from './airtrail-addon.guard';
+import { AirtrailSettingsDto } from './airtrail.dto';
 import { getClientIp } from '../../services/auditLog';
-import { airtrailSettingsSchema, type AirtrailSettings } from '@trek/shared';
 import {
   getConnectionSettings,
   getConnectionStatus,
@@ -35,7 +34,7 @@ export class AirtrailController {
   @Put('settings')
   async putSettings(
     @CurrentUser() user: User,
-    @Body(new ZodValidationPipe(airtrailSettingsSchema)) body: AirtrailSettings,
+    @Body() body: AirtrailSettingsDto,
     @Req() req: Request,
   ) {
     const result = await saveSettings(
@@ -77,7 +76,7 @@ export class AirtrailController {
   @HttpCode(200)
   test(
     @CurrentUser() user: User,
-    @Body(new ZodValidationPipe(airtrailSettingsSchema)) body: AirtrailSettings,
+    @Body() body: AirtrailSettingsDto,
   ) {
     return testConnection(user.id, body.url, body.apiKey, !!body.allowInsecureTls);
   }
diff --git a/server/src/nest/integrations/airtrail.dto.ts b/server/src/nest/integrations/airtrail.dto.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1906d4177
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/src/nest/integrations/airtrail.dto.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+/**
+ * Server-side createZodDto wrappers over the @trek/shared AirTrail contracts,
+ * so the global ZodValidationPipe (APP_PIPE) validates bodies by metatype —
+ * the shared Zod schemas stay the single source of truth.
+ */
+import { createZodDto } from 'nestjs-zod';
+import { airtrailImportSchema, airtrailSettingsSchema } from '@trek/shared';
+
+export class AirtrailSettingsDto extends createZodDto(airtrailSettingsSchema) {}
+export class AirtrailImportDto extends createZodDto(airtrailImportSchema) {}
diff --git a/server/src/nest/places/places.controller.ts b/server/src/nest/places/places.controller.ts
index 51b5d0017..054bc9732 100644
--- a/server/src/nest/places/places.controller.ts
+++ b/server/src/nest/places/places.controller.ts
@@ -25,8 +25,7 @@ import { CurrentUser } from '../auth/current-user.decorator';
 import { PLACE_IMAGE_UPLOAD } from '../common/place-image-upload';
 import { placeImageUrl } from '../../services/placeImage';
 import { isDemoEmail } from '../../services/demo';
-import { ZodValidationPipe } from '../common/zod-validation.pipe';
-import { placeRatingRequestSchema, type PlaceRatingRequest } from '@trek/shared';
+import { PlaceRatingDto } from './places.dto';
 
 const STRING_LIMITS: Record<string, number> = { name: 200, description: 2000, address: 500, notes: 2000 };
 const UPLOAD = { storage: memoryStorage(), limits: { fileSize: 10 * 1024 * 1024 } };
@@ -307,7 +306,7 @@ export class PlacesController {
     @CurrentUser() user: User,
     @Param('tripId') tripId: string,
     @Param('id') id: string,
-    @Body(new ZodValidationPipe(placeRatingRequestSchema)) body: PlaceRatingRequest,
+    @Body() body: PlaceRatingDto,
     @Headers('x-socket-id') socketId?: string,
   ) {
     // Deliberately no place_edit check: every trip member may cast their own
diff --git a/server/src/nest/places/places.dto.ts b/server/src/nest/places/places.dto.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..eb18a47c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/src/nest/places/places.dto.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+import { createZodDto } from 'nestjs-zod';
+import { placeRatingRequestSchema } from '@trek/shared';
+
+/**
+ * Server-side createZodDto wrappers over the @trek/shared places contracts.
+ * Typing a controller parameter with one of these classes is what lets the
+ * global ZodValidationPipe (APP_PIPE) validate it by metatype — the Zod
+ * schemas in shared/ remain the single source of truth for the contract.
+ */
+
+export class PlaceRatingDto extends createZodDto(placeRatingRequestSchema) {}
diff --git a/server/src/nest/platform/api-docs.ts b/server/src/nest/platform/api-docs.ts
index efa6031db..2a33dae41 100644
--- a/server/src/nest/platform/api-docs.ts
+++ b/server/src/nest/platform/api-docs.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import type { INestApplication } from '@nestjs/common';
 import { DocumentBuilder, SwaggerModule } from '@nestjs/swagger';
+import { cleanupOpenApiDoc } from 'nestjs-zod';
 import { readEnv } from '../../app-config';
-import { attachZodBodySchemas } from '../common/api-zod';
 
 /**
  * Swagger UI + OpenAPI spec for the REST API (#1412), gated behind
@@ -29,10 +29,12 @@ export function setupApiDocs(app: INestApplication): void {
     .addCookieAuth('trek_session')
     .addSecurityRequirements('session')
     .build();
-  const document = SwaggerModule.createDocument(app, config);
-  // Lift the Zod schemas the routes already validate with into the document —
-  // no double annotation, every ZodValidationPipe body is documented.
-  attachZodBodySchemas(app, document);
+  const rawDocument = SwaggerModule.createDocument(app, config);
+  // The createZodDto classes on @Body() params carry their @trek/shared Zod
+  // schemas into the document; cleanupOpenApiDoc (nestjs-zod) normalizes the
+  // zod-generated JSON Schema output — no double annotation, every validated
+  // body is documented.
+  const document = cleanupOpenApiDoc(rawDocument);
   SwaggerModule.setup('api/docs', app, document, {
     jsonDocumentUrl: 'api/docs-json',
     yamlDocumentUrl: 'api/docs-yaml',
diff --git a/server/src/nest/todo/todo.controller.ts b/server/src/nest/todo/todo.controller.ts
index c737abdb9..aab26af73 100644
--- a/server/src/nest/todo/todo.controller.ts
+++ b/server/src/nest/todo/todo.controller.ts
@@ -12,17 +12,20 @@ import {
 } from '@nestjs/common';
 import type { User } from '../../types';
 import { TodoService } from './todo.service';
+import { TodoCreateItemDto, TodoUpdateItemDto, TodoReorderDto, TodoCategoryAssigneesDto } from './todo.dto';
 import { JwtAuthGuard } from '../auth/jwt-auth.guard';
 import { CurrentUser } from '../auth/current-user.decorator';
 
 /**
  * /api/trips/:tripId/todo — trip-scoped task list.
  *
- * Byte-identical to the legacy Express route (server/src/routes/todo.ts): every
- * handler verifies trip access (404); mutations check the 'packing_edit'
- * permission (403); create is 201, the rest 200; the bespoke 400/404 bodies are
- * reproduced; mutations broadcast over WebSocket with the forwarded X-Socket-Id.
- * /reorder is declared before /:id so it wins over the param.
+ * Every handler verifies trip access (404); mutations check the 'packing_edit'
+ * permission (403); create is 201, the rest 200; mutations broadcast over
+ * WebSocket with the forwarded X-Socket-Id. /reorder is declared before /:id so
+ * it wins over the param. Bodies validate against the @trek/shared todo schemas
+ * via the DTO classes in todo.dto.ts + the global ZodValidationPipe (400 with
+ * the standard `{ error }` envelope on mismatch — this replaced the legacy
+ * bespoke 'Item name is required' check).
  */
 @Controller('api/trips/:tripId/todo')
 @UseGuards(JwtAuthGuard)
@@ -53,14 +56,11 @@ export class TodoController {
   create(
     @CurrentUser() user: User,
     @Param('tripId') tripId: string,
-    @Body() body: { name?: string; category?: string; due_date?: string; description?: string; assigned_user_id?: number; priority?: number },
+    @Body() body: TodoCreateItemDto,
     @Headers('x-socket-id') socketId?: string,
   ) {
     const trip = this.requireTrip(tripId, user);
     this.requireEdit(trip, user);
-    if (!body.name) {
-      throw new HttpException({ error: 'Item name is required' }, 400);
-    }
     const { name, category, due_date, description, assigned_user_id, priority } = body;
     const item = this.todo.createItem(tripId, { name, category, due_date, description, assigned_user_id, priority });
     this.todo.broadcast(tripId, 'todo:created', { item }, socketId);
@@ -71,11 +71,11 @@ export class TodoController {
   reorder(
     @CurrentUser() user: User,
     @Param('tripId') tripId: string,
-    @Body('orderedIds') orderedIds: number[],
+    @Body() body: TodoReorderDto,
   ) {
     const trip = this.requireTrip(tripId, user);
     this.requireEdit(trip, user);
-    this.todo.reorderItems(tripId, orderedIds);
+    this.todo.reorderItems(tripId, body.orderedIds);
     return { success: true };
   }
 
@@ -84,13 +84,21 @@ export class TodoController {
     @CurrentUser() user: User,
     @Param('tripId') tripId: string,
     @Param('id') id: string,
-    @Body() body: Record<string, unknown>,
+    @Body() body: TodoUpdateItemDto,
     @Headers('x-socket-id') socketId?: string,
   ) {
     const trip = this.requireTrip(tripId, user);
     this.requireEdit(trip, user);
-    const { name, checked, category, due_date, description, assigned_user_id, priority } = body as Record<string, never>;
-    const updated = this.todo.updateItem(tripId, id, { name, checked, category, due_date, description, assigned_user_id, priority }, Object.keys(body));
+    const { name, checked, category, due_date, description, assigned_user_id, priority } = body;
+    // bodyKeys carries which keys the request actually provided (the null-clear
+    // protocol); the parsed body only ever holds known schema keys.
+    const updated = this.todo.updateItem(
+      tripId,
+      id,
+      // checked arrives as boolean or legacy 0/1 — normalize to the 0/1 the SQL binds.
+      { name, checked: checked === undefined ? undefined : checked ? 1 : 0, category, due_date, description, assigned_user_id, priority },
+      Object.keys(body),
+    );
     if (!updated) {
       throw new HttpException({ error: 'Item not found' }, 404);
     }
@@ -125,13 +133,13 @@ export class TodoController {
     @CurrentUser() user: User,
     @Param('tripId') tripId: string,
     @Param('categoryName') categoryName: string,
-    @Body('user_ids') userIds: number[],
+    @Body() body: TodoCategoryAssigneesDto,
     @Headers('x-socket-id') socketId?: string,
   ) {
     const trip = this.requireTrip(tripId, user);
     this.requireEdit(trip, user);
     const category = decodeURIComponent(categoryName);
-    const rows = this.todo.updateCategoryAssignees(tripId, category, userIds);
+    const rows = this.todo.updateCategoryAssignees(tripId, category, body.user_ids);
     this.todo.broadcast(tripId, 'todo:assignees', { category, assignees: rows }, socketId);
     return { assignees: rows };
   }
diff --git a/server/src/nest/todo/todo.dto.ts b/server/src/nest/todo/todo.dto.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..48556da99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/src/nest/todo/todo.dto.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+import { createZodDto } from 'nestjs-zod';
+import {
+  todoCreateItemRequestSchema,
+  todoUpdateItemRequestSchema,
+  todoReorderRequestSchema,
+  todoCategoryAssigneesRequestSchema,
+} from '@trek/shared';
+
+/**
+ * Server-side createZodDto wrappers over the @trek/shared todo contracts. The
+ * global ZodValidationPipe (APP_PIPE in app.module.ts) validates any @Body()
+ * parameter typed with one of these classes by metatype — the Zod schemas in
+ * shared/ remain the single source of truth for the wire contract.
+ */
+export class TodoCreateItemDto extends createZodDto(todoCreateItemRequestSchema) {}
+export class TodoUpdateItemDto extends createZodDto(todoUpdateItemRequestSchema) {}
+export class TodoReorderDto extends createZodDto(todoReorderRequestSchema) {}
+export class TodoCategoryAssigneesDto extends createZodDto(todoCategoryAssigneesRequestSchema) {}
diff --git a/server/src/nest/vacay/vacay.controller.ts b/server/src/nest/vacay/vacay.controller.ts
index e8430d918..70d901d61 100644
--- a/server/src/nest/vacay/vacay.controller.ts
+++ b/server/src/nest/vacay/vacay.controller.ts
@@ -12,17 +12,11 @@ import {
   Query,
   UseGuards,
 } from '@nestjs/common';
-import {
-  vacayShareUpdateRequestSchema,
-  vacayYearSettingsRequestSchema,
-  type VacayShareUpdateRequest,
-  type VacayYearSettingsRequest,
-} from '@trek/shared';
 import type { User } from '../../types';
 import { VacayService } from './vacay.service';
+import { VacayShareUpdateDto, VacayYearSettingsDto } from './vacay.dto';
 import { JwtAuthGuard } from '../auth/jwt-auth.guard';
 import { CurrentUser } from '../auth/current-user.decorator';
-import { ZodValidationPipe } from '../common/zod-validation.pipe';
 
 /**
  * /api/addons/vacay — shared vacation-day planner.
@@ -188,7 +182,7 @@ export class VacayController {
   @Put('year-settings')
   updateYearSettings(
     @CurrentUser() user: User,
-    @Body(new ZodValidationPipe(vacayYearSettingsRequestSchema)) body: VacayYearSettingsRequest,
+    @Body() body: VacayYearSettingsDto,
   ) {
     return { settings: this.vacay.updateYearSettings(user.id, body) };
   }
@@ -294,7 +288,7 @@ export class VacayController {
   updateShare(
     @CurrentUser() user: User,
     @Param('id') idParam: string,
-    @Body(new ZodValidationPipe(vacayShareUpdateRequestSchema)) body: VacayShareUpdateRequest,
+    @Body() body: VacayShareUpdateDto,
     @Headers('x-socket-id') socketId?: string,
   ) {
     if (!this.vacay.setShareHidden(parseInt(idParam), user.id, body.hidden, socketId)) {
diff --git a/server/src/nest/vacay/vacay.dto.ts b/server/src/nest/vacay/vacay.dto.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3d0a6cc13
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/src/nest/vacay/vacay.dto.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+/**
+ * Server-side createZodDto wrappers over the @trek/shared vacay contracts, so
+ * the global ZodValidationPipe (APP_PIPE) validates bodies by metatype — the
+ * shared Zod schemas stay the single source of truth.
+ */
+import { createZodDto } from 'nestjs-zod';
+import { vacayShareUpdateRequestSchema, vacayYearSettingsRequestSchema } from '@trek/shared';
+
+export class VacayYearSettingsDto extends createZodDto(vacayYearSettingsRequestSchema) {}
+export class VacayShareUpdateDto extends createZodDto(vacayShareUpdateRequestSchema) {}
diff --git a/server/tests/e2e/collections.e2e.test.ts b/server/tests/e2e/collections.e2e.test.ts
index e336a040b..124ec7055 100644
--- a/server/tests/e2e/collections.e2e.test.ts
+++ b/server/tests/e2e/collections.e2e.test.ts
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ import { runMigrations } from '../../src/db/migrations';
 import { createUser, createTrip, createCategory } from '../helpers/factories';
 import { CollectionsModule } from '../../src/nest/collections/collections.module';
 import { TrekExceptionFilter } from '../../src/nest/common/trek-exception.filter';
+import { ZodValidationPipe } from '../../src/nest/common/zod-validation.pipe';
 
 describe('Collections e2e (real auth guard + real service + temp SQLite)', () => {
   let server: Server;
@@ -54,6 +55,9 @@ describe('Collections e2e (real auth guard + real service + temp SQLite)', () =>
     const nest = moduleRef.createNestApplication();
     nest.use(cookieParser());
     nest.useGlobalFilters(new TrekExceptionFilter());
+    // Mirror the production APP_PIPE (app.module.ts): DTO-typed bodies validate
+    // by metatype, exactly as they do under buildApp().
+    nest.useGlobalPipes(new ZodValidationPipe());
     await nest.init();
     return nest;
   }
diff --git a/server/tests/e2e/places.e2e.test.ts b/server/tests/e2e/places.e2e.test.ts
index 4e66894b6..2ce10f28a 100644
--- a/server/tests/e2e/places.e2e.test.ts
+++ b/server/tests/e2e/places.e2e.test.ts
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ vi.mock('../../src/services/placeService', () => pl);
 
 import { PlacesModule } from '../../src/nest/places/places.module';
 import { TrekExceptionFilter } from '../../src/nest/common/trek-exception.filter';
+import { ZodValidationPipe } from '../../src/nest/common/zod-validation.pipe';
 
 describe('Places e2e (real auth guard + temp SQLite)', () => {
   let server: Server;
@@ -53,6 +54,9 @@ describe('Places e2e (real auth guard + temp SQLite)', () => {
     const nest = moduleRef.createNestApplication();
     nest.use(cookieParser());
     nest.useGlobalFilters(new TrekExceptionFilter());
+    // Mirror the production APP_PIPE (app.module.ts): DTO-typed bodies validate
+    // by metatype, exactly as they do under buildApp().
+    nest.useGlobalPipes(new ZodValidationPipe());
     await nest.init();
     return nest;
   }
diff --git a/server/tests/e2e/todo.e2e.test.ts b/server/tests/e2e/todo.e2e.test.ts
index 025927611..cac521725 100644
--- a/server/tests/e2e/todo.e2e.test.ts
+++ b/server/tests/e2e/todo.e2e.test.ts
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ vi.mock('../../src/services/permissions', () => ({ checkPermission }));
 import { TodoModule } from '../../src/nest/todo/todo.module';
 import { DatabaseModule } from '../../src/nest/database/database.module';
 import { TrekExceptionFilter } from '../../src/nest/common/trek-exception.filter';
+import { ZodValidationPipe } from '../../src/nest/common/zod-validation.pipe';
 
 function insertItem(tripId: number, name: string, extra: Partial<{ sort_order: number; due_date: string }> = {}): number {
   const res = db
@@ -87,6 +88,9 @@ describe('To-do e2e (real auth guard + real SQL over temp SQLite)', () => {
     const nest = moduleRef.createNestApplication();
     nest.use(cookieParser());
     nest.useGlobalFilters(new TrekExceptionFilter());
+    // Mirror the production APP_PIPE (app.module.ts): the DTO-typed bodies
+    // validate by metatype, exactly as they do under buildApp().
+    nest.useGlobalPipes(new ZodValidationPipe());
     await nest.init();
     return nest;
   }
@@ -138,10 +142,23 @@ describe('To-do e2e (real auth guard + real SQL over temp SQLite)', () => {
     expect(db.prepare('SELECT name FROM todo_items WHERE id = ?').get(res.body.item.id)).toEqual({ name: 'Book hotel' });
   });
 
-  it('400 on create without a name', async () => {
+  it('400 from the Zod pipe on create without a name', async () => {
     const res = await request(server).post(`/api/trips/${tripId}/todo`).set('Cookie', sessionCookie(1)).send({});
     expect(res.status).toBe(400);
-    expect(res.body).toEqual({ error: 'Item name is required' });
+    expect(res.body.error).toContain('name');
+  });
+
+  it('400 from the Zod pipe on reorder without orderedIds', async () => {
+    const res = await request(server).put(`/api/trips/${tripId}/todo/reorder`).set('Cookie', sessionCookie(1)).send({});
+    expect(res.status).toBe(400);
+    expect(res.body.error).toContain('orderedIds');
+  });
+
+  it('accepts the legacy numeric checked form through the pipe', async () => {
+    const id = insertItem(tripId, 'Toggle me');
+    const res = await request(server).put(`/api/trips/${tripId}/todo/${id}`).set('Cookie', sessionCookie(1)).send({ checked: 1 });
+    expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+    expect(res.body.item.checked).toBe(1);
   });
 
   it('403 on create without permission, writing nothing', async () => {
diff --git a/server/tests/e2e/vacay.e2e.test.ts b/server/tests/e2e/vacay.e2e.test.ts
index 5cc81dcef..0414a1d40 100644
--- a/server/tests/e2e/vacay.e2e.test.ts
+++ b/server/tests/e2e/vacay.e2e.test.ts
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ vi.mock('../../src/services/vacayService', () => svc);
 
 import { VacayModule } from '../../src/nest/vacay/vacay.module';
 import { TrekExceptionFilter } from '../../src/nest/common/trek-exception.filter';
+import { ZodValidationPipe } from '../../src/nest/common/zod-validation.pipe';
 
 describe('Vacay e2e (real auth guard + temp SQLite)', () => {
   let server: Server;
@@ -48,6 +49,9 @@ describe('Vacay e2e (real auth guard + temp SQLite)', () => {
     const nest = moduleRef.createNestApplication();
     nest.use(cookieParser());
     nest.useGlobalFilters(new TrekExceptionFilter());
+    // Mirror the production APP_PIPE (app.module.ts): DTO-typed bodies validate
+    // by metatype, exactly as they do under buildApp().
+    nest.useGlobalPipes(new ZodValidationPipe());
     await nest.init();
     return nest;
   }
diff --git a/server/tests/integration/api-docs.test.ts b/server/tests/integration/api-docs.test.ts
index bb03dbfdb..795f66294 100644
--- a/server/tests/integration/api-docs.test.ts
+++ b/server/tests/integration/api-docs.test.ts
@@ -105,11 +105,14 @@ describe('API-DOCS (#1412) — flag-gated OpenAPI surface', () => {
 
   it('DOCS-004 — Zod request bodies are lifted into the spec (no double annotation)', async () => {
     const res = await request(instance).get('/api/docs-json');
-    // collections create validates with collectionCreateRequestSchema via
-    // ZodValidationPipe — the enricher must surface its object schema.
+    // collections create validates with CollectionCreateDto (createZodDto over
+    // collectionCreateRequestSchema) via the global ZodValidationPipe — the DTO
+    // metatype must surface as a $ref to a component object schema.
     const create = res.body.paths['/api/addons/collections']?.post;
     expect(create).toBeDefined();
-    const schema = create.requestBody?.content?.['application/json']?.schema;
+    const ref = create.requestBody?.content?.['application/json']?.schema?.$ref as string | undefined;
+    expect(ref).toMatch(/^#\/components\/schemas\//);
+    const schema = res.body.components.schemas[ref!.split('/').pop()!];
     expect(schema?.type).toBe('object');
     expect(schema?.properties?.name).toBeDefined();
   });
diff --git a/server/tests/unit/nest/api-zod.test.ts b/server/tests/unit/nest/api-zod.test.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 554c8e53b..000000000
--- a/server/tests/unit/nest/api-zod.test.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,28 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * zodToOpenApi (#1412): Zod → OpenAPI 3.0 conversion + the degrade path.
- * The end-to-end enricher behaviour is covered by tests/integration/api-docs.
- */
-import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
-import { z } from 'zod';
-import { zodToOpenApi } from '../../../src/nest/common/api-zod';
-
-describe('zodToOpenApi', () => {
-  it('converts an object schema with required/optional split', () => {
-    const out = zodToOpenApi(z.object({ name: z.string(), count: z.number().optional() })) as {
-      type: string; properties: Record<string, unknown>; required: string[];
-    };
-    expect(out.type).toBe('object');
-    expect(out.properties.name).toEqual({ type: 'string' });
-    expect(out.properties.count).toEqual({ type: 'number' });
-    expect(out.required).toEqual(['name']);
-  });
-
-  it('survives transform-heavy schemas via unrepresentable: any', () => {
-    const out = zodToOpenApi(z.object({ when: z.string().transform((s) => new Date(s)) }));
-    expect((out as { type: string }).type).toBe('object');
-  });
-
-  it('degrades to a bare object instead of throwing on a broken schema', () => {
-    expect(zodToOpenApi({} as never)).toEqual({ type: 'object' });
-  });
-});
diff --git a/server/tests/unit/nest/todo.controller.test.ts b/server/tests/unit/nest/todo.controller.test.ts
index 838d5be30..a79ef5bc2 100644
--- a/server/tests/unit/nest/todo.controller.test.ts
+++ b/server/tests/unit/nest/todo.controller.test.ts
@@ -48,11 +48,10 @@ describe('TodoController (parity with the legacy /api/trips/:tripId/todo route)'
       });
     });
 
-    it('400 when name missing', () => {
-      expect(thrown(() => new TodoController(makeService()).create(user, '5', {}))).toEqual({
-        status: 400, body: { error: 'Item name is required' },
-      });
-    });
+    // The missing-name 400 moved from a bespoke controller check into the
+    // ZodValidationPipe (todoCreateItemRequestSchema) — direct method calls
+    // bypass parameter pipes, so that path is covered by the e2e suite and
+    // the schema spec in @trek/shared.
 
     it('creates and broadcasts', () => {
       const createItem = vi.fn().mockReturnValue({ id: 9, name: 'Pack' });
@@ -71,14 +70,21 @@ describe('TodoController (parity with the legacy /api/trips/:tripId/todo route)'
       });
     });
 
-    it('updates, forwards changed keys, broadcasts', () => {
+    it('updates, forwards changed keys, normalizes checked to 0/1, broadcasts', () => {
       const updateItem = vi.fn().mockReturnValue({ id: 9 });
       const broadcast = vi.fn();
       const svc = makeService({ updateItem, broadcast } as Partial<TodoService>);
       new TodoController(svc).update(user, '5', '9', { checked: true }, 'sock');
-      expect(updateItem).toHaveBeenCalledWith('5', '9', expect.objectContaining({ checked: true }), ['checked']);
+      expect(updateItem).toHaveBeenCalledWith('5', '9', expect.objectContaining({ checked: 1 }), ['checked']);
       expect(broadcast).toHaveBeenCalledWith('5', 'todo:updated', { item: { id: 9 } }, 'sock');
     });
+
+    it('normalizes checked false to 0', () => {
+      const updateItem = vi.fn().mockReturnValue({ id: 9 });
+      const svc = makeService({ updateItem, broadcast: vi.fn() } as Partial<TodoService>);
+      new TodoController(svc).update(user, '5', '9', { checked: false });
+      expect(updateItem).toHaveBeenCalledWith('5', '9', expect.objectContaining({ checked: 0 }), ['checked']);
+    });
   });
 
   describe('DELETE /:id', () => {
@@ -101,7 +107,7 @@ describe('TodoController (parity with the legacy /api/trips/:tripId/todo route)'
   it('PUT /reorder succeeds with permission', () => {
     const reorderItems = vi.fn();
     const svc = makeService({ reorderItems } as Partial<TodoService>);
-    expect(new TodoController(svc).reorder(user, '5', [3, 1, 2])).toEqual({ success: true });
+    expect(new TodoController(svc).reorder(user, '5', { orderedIds: [3, 1, 2] })).toEqual({ success: true });
     expect(reorderItems).toHaveBeenCalledWith('5', [3, 1, 2]);
   });
 
@@ -115,7 +121,7 @@ describe('TodoController (parity with the legacy /api/trips/:tripId/todo route)'
       const updateCategoryAssignees = vi.fn().mockReturnValue([{ user_id: 2 }]);
       const broadcast = vi.fn();
       const svc = makeService({ updateCategoryAssignees, broadcast } as Partial<TodoService>);
-      new TodoController(svc).updateCategoryAssignees(user, '5', 'To%20Buy', [2], 'sock');
+      new TodoController(svc).updateCategoryAssignees(user, '5', 'To%20Buy', { user_ids: [2] }, 'sock');
       expect(updateCategoryAssignees).toHaveBeenCalledWith('5', 'To Buy', [2]);
       expect(broadcast).toHaveBeenCalledWith('5', 'todo:assignees', { category: 'To Buy', assignees: [{ user_id: 2 }] }, 'sock');
     });
diff --git a/server/tests/unit/nest/validate-body-contracts.test.ts b/server/tests/unit/nest/validate-body-contracts.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..96e4a7829
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/tests/unit/nest/validate-body-contracts.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+/**
+ * Unit tests for the fail-closed body-contract boot gate
+ * (src/nest/common/validate-body-contracts.ts): a POST/PUT/PATCH @Body()
+ * without a createZodDto metatype must refuse boot unless allow-listed, and
+ * stale allow-list entries must refuse boot too (the list only ratchets down).
+ */
+import { describe, it, expect, beforeAll, afterAll } from 'vitest';
+import { Body, Controller, Get, Post, Put } from '@nestjs/common';
+import { Test } from '@nestjs/testing';
+import type { INestApplication } from '@nestjs/common';
+import { createZodDto } from 'nestjs-zod';
+import { z } from 'zod';
+import { validateBodyContracts } from '../../../src/nest/common/validate-body-contracts';
+
+class GoodDto extends createZodDto(z.object({ name: z.string() })) {}
+
+@Controller('gate-test/good')
+class GoodController {
+  @Post()
+  create(@Body() body: GoodDto) {
+    return body;
+  }
+
+  // Non-mutation and body-less handlers are out of scope for the gate.
+  @Get()
+  list() {
+    return [];
+  }
+
+  @Put('no-body/:id')
+  touch() {
+    return { ok: true };
+  }
+}
+
+@Controller('gate-test/bad')
+class BadController {
+  @Put(':id')
+  update(@Body() body: Record<string, unknown>) {
+    return body;
+  }
+}
+
+@Controller('gate-test/subfield')
+class SubfieldController {
+  @Post()
+  reorder(@Body('orderedIds') orderedIds: number[]) {
+    return orderedIds;
+  }
+}
+
+async function buildApp(controllers: unknown[]): Promise<INestApplication> {
+  const moduleRef = await Test.createTestingModule({
+    controllers: controllers as never[],
+  }).compile();
+  return moduleRef.createNestApplication();
+}
+
+describe('validateBodyContracts (fail-closed boot gate)', () => {
+  let goodApp: INestApplication;
+  let badApp: INestApplication;
+  let subfieldApp: INestApplication;
+
+  beforeAll(async () => {
+    goodApp = await buildApp([GoodController]);
+    badApp = await buildApp([GoodController, BadController]);
+    subfieldApp = await buildApp([SubfieldController]);
+  });
+
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    await Promise.all([goodApp.close(), badApp.close(), subfieldApp.close()]);
+  });
+
+  it('GATE-001 — passes when every mutation body is a createZodDto class', () => {
+    expect(() => validateBodyContracts(goodApp, [])).not.toThrow();
+  });
+
+  it('GATE-002 — throws naming the handler whose @Body() lacks a DTO', () => {
+    expect(() => validateBodyContracts(badApp, [])).toThrow(/BadController\.update/);
+  });
+
+  it('GATE-003 — @Body(\'field\') sub-reads are unvalidated and flagged too', () => {
+    expect(() => validateBodyContracts(subfieldApp, [])).toThrow(/SubfieldController\.reorder/);
+  });
+
+  it('GATE-004 — an allow-listed legacy route passes', () => {
+    expect(() => validateBodyContracts(badApp, ['BadController.update'])).not.toThrow();
+  });
+
+  it('GATE-005 — a stale allow-list entry throws (ratchet enforcement)', () => {
+    expect(() => validateBodyContracts(goodApp, ['GhostController.gone'])).toThrow(
+      /stale body-contract allow-list entry.*GhostController\.gone/,
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('GATE-006 — the real allow-list is sorted and duplicate-free (reviewable ratchet)', async () => {
+    const { BODY_CONTRACT_ALLOW_LIST } = await import('../../../src/nest/common/body-contract-allow-list');
+    expect(BODY_CONTRACT_ALLOW_LIST).toEqual([...new Set(BODY_CONTRACT_ALLOW_LIST)].sort());
+  });
+});