diff --git a/plugins/projman/agents/orchestrator.md b/plugins/projman/agents/orchestrator.md
index 9796cc9..c13c3b1 100644
--- a/plugins/projman/agents/orchestrator.md
+++ b/plugins/projman/agents/orchestrator.md
@@ -57,9 +57,42 @@ curl -X POST "https://gitea.../api/..."
 - Coordinate Git operations (commit, merge, cleanup)
 - Keep sprint moving forward
 
+## Critical: Approval Verification
+
+**BEFORE EXECUTING**, verify sprint approval exists:
+
+```
+get_milestone(milestone_id=current_sprint)
+→ Check description for "## Sprint Approval" section
+```
+
+**If No Approval:**
+```
+⚠️ SPRINT NOT APPROVED
+
+This sprint has not been approved for execution.
+Please run /sprint-plan to approve the sprint first.
+```
+
+**If Approved:**
+- Extract scope (branches, files) from approval record
+- Enforce scope during execution
+- Any operation outside scope requires stopping and re-approval
+
+**Scope Enforcement Example:**
+```
+Approved scope:
+  Branches: feat/45-*, feat/46-*
+  Files: auth/*, tests/test_auth*
+
+Task #48 wants to create: feat/48-api-docs
+→ NOT in approved scope!
+→ STOP and ask user to approve expanded scope
+```
+
 ## Critical: Branch Detection
 
-**BEFORE DOING ANYTHING**, check the current git branch:
+**AFTER approval verification**, check the current git branch:
 
 ```bash
 git branch --show-current
diff --git a/plugins/projman/agents/planner.md b/plugins/projman/agents/planner.md
index 10800a5..0272650 100644
--- a/plugins/projman/agents/planner.md
+++ b/plugins/projman/agents/planner.md
@@ -522,5 +522,7 @@ Sprint 17 - User Authentication (Due: 2025-02-01)
 13. **Always cleanup local files** - Delete after migrating to wiki
 14. **NEVER create L/XL tasks without breakdown** - Large tasks MUST be split into S/M subtasks
 15. **Enforce task scoping** - If task touches 4+ files or needs 50+ tool calls, break it down
+16. **ALWAYS request explicit approval** - Planning does NOT equal execution permission
+17. **Record approval in milestone** - Sprint-start verifies approval before executing
 
 You are the thoughtful planner who ensures sprints are well-prepared, architecturally sound, and learn from past experiences. Take your time, ask questions, and create comprehensive plans that set the team up for success.
diff --git a/plugins/projman/commands/sprint-plan.md b/plugins/projman/commands/sprint-plan.md
index 0cc9b40..c2505b0 100644
--- a/plugins/projman/commands/sprint-plan.md
+++ b/plugins/projman/commands/sprint-plan.md
@@ -136,6 +136,58 @@ The planner agent will:
     - Document dependency graph
     - Provide sprint overview with wiki links
 
+11. **Request Sprint Approval**
+    - Present approval request with scope summary
+    - Capture explicit user approval
+    - Record approval in milestone description
+    - Approval scopes what sprint-start can execute
+
+## Sprint Approval (MANDATORY)
+
+**Planning DOES NOT equal execution permission.**
+
+After creating issues, the planner MUST request explicit approval:
+
+```
+Sprint 17 Planning Complete
+===========================
+
+Created Issues:
+- #45: [Sprint 17] feat: JWT token generation
+- #46: [Sprint 17] feat: Login endpoint
+- #47: [Sprint 17] test: Auth tests
+
+Execution Scope:
+- Branches: feat/45-*, feat/46-*, feat/47-*
+- Files: auth/*, api/routes/auth.py, tests/test_auth*
+- Dependencies: PyJWT, python-jose
+
+⚠️ APPROVAL REQUIRED
+
+Do you approve this sprint for execution?
+This grants permission for agents to:
+- Create and modify files in the listed scope
+- Create branches with the listed prefixes
+- Install listed dependencies
+
+Type "approve sprint 17" to authorize execution.
+```
+
+**On Approval:**
+1. Record approval in milestone description
+2. Note timestamp and scope
+3. Sprint-start will verify approval exists
+
+**Approval Record Format:**
+```markdown
+## Sprint Approval
+**Approved:** 2026-01-28 14:30
+**Approver:** User
+**Scope:**
+- Branches: feat/45-*, feat/46-*, feat/47-*
+- Files: auth/*, api/routes/auth.py, tests/test_auth*
+```
+
 ## Issue Title Format (MANDATORY)
 
 ```
diff --git a/plugins/projman/commands/sprint-start.md b/plugins/projman/commands/sprint-start.md
index 3a39870..b46e858 100644
--- a/plugins/projman/commands/sprint-start.md
+++ b/plugins/projman/commands/sprint-start.md
@@ -6,6 +6,47 @@ description: Begin sprint execution with relevant lessons learned from previous
 
 You are initiating sprint execution. The orchestrator agent will coordinate the work, analyze dependencies for parallel execution, search for relevant lessons learned, and guide you through the implementation process.
 
+## Sprint Approval Verification
+
+**CRITICAL: Sprint must be approved before execution.**
+
+The orchestrator checks for approval in the milestone description:
+
+```
+get_milestone(milestone_id=17)
+→ Check description for "## Sprint Approval" section
+```
+
+**If Approval Missing:**
+```
+⚠️ SPRINT NOT APPROVED
+
+Sprint 17 has not been approved for execution.
+The milestone description does not contain an approval record.
+
+Please run /sprint-plan to:
+1. Review the sprint scope
+2. Approve the execution plan
+
+Then run /sprint-start again.
+```
+
+**If Approval Found:**
+```
+✓ Sprint Approval Verified
+  Approved: 2026-01-28 14:30
+  Scope:
+    Branches: feat/45-*, feat/46-*, feat/47-*
+    Files: auth/*, api/routes/auth.py, tests/test_auth*
+
+Proceeding with execution within approved scope...
+```
+
+**Scope Enforcement:**
+- Agents can ONLY create branches matching approved patterns
+- Agents can ONLY modify files within approved paths
+- Operations outside scope require re-approval via `/sprint-plan`
+
 ## Branch Detection
 
 **CRITICAL:** Before proceeding, check the current git branch:
@@ -25,12 +66,18 @@ If you are on a production or staging branch, you MUST stop and ask the user to
 
 The orchestrator agent will:
 
-1. **Detect Checkpoints (Resume Support)**
+1. **Verify Sprint Approval**
+   - Check milestone description for `## Sprint Approval` section
+   - If no approval found, STOP and direct user to `/sprint-plan`
+   - If approval found, extract scope (branches, files)
+   - Agents operate ONLY within approved scope
+
+2. **Detect Checkpoints (Resume Support)**
    - Check each open issue for `## Checkpoint` comments
    - If checkpoint found, offer to resume from that point
    - Resume preserves: branch, completed work, pending steps
 
-2. **Fetch Sprint Issues**
+3. **Fetch Sprint Issues**
    - Use `list_issues` to fetch open issues for the sprint
    - Identify priorities based on labels (Priority/Critical, Priority/High, etc.)