diff --git a/coldfront/config/core.py b/coldfront/config/core.py
index 84fbd517c..48fd9a726 100644
--- a/coldfront/config/core.py
+++ b/coldfront/config/core.py
@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 PROJECT_ENABLE_PROJECT_REVIEW = ENV.bool("PROJECT_ENABLE_PROJECT_REVIEW", default=True)
 
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Maximum number of projects per PI
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+MAX_PROJECTS_PER_PI = ENV.int("MAX_PROJECTS_PER_PI", default=3)
+
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Allocation related
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/coldfront/core/project/tests/tests.py b/coldfront/core/project/tests/tests.py
index 91ffac777..2b9fbed25 100644
--- a/coldfront/core/project/tests/tests.py
+++ b/coldfront/core/project/tests/tests.py
@@ -20,7 +20,9 @@
     ProjectAttributeType,
     ProjectUser,
     ProjectPermission,
+    ProjectStatusChoice,
 )
+from django.urls import reverse
 
 logging.disable(logging.CRITICAL)
 
@@ -32,10 +34,16 @@ class Data:
         def __init__(self):
             user = UserFactory(username="cgray")
             user.userprofile.is_pi = True
+            user.userprofile.save()
 
             school = SchoolFactory(description="Tandon School of Engineering")
             status = ProjectStatusChoiceFactory(name="Active")
 
+            # Ensure the status of "New" expects exists
+            ProjectStatusChoiceFactory(name="New")
+            ProjectUserRoleChoiceFactory(name="Manager")
+            ProjectUserStatusChoiceFactory(name="Active")
+
             self.initial_fields = {
                 "pi": user,
                 "title": "Angular momentum in QGP holography",
@@ -47,9 +55,52 @@ def __init__(self):
 
             self.unsaved_object = Project(**self.initial_fields)
 
+            # POST payload for the CreateView (fields = title, description, school)
+            self.create_post_data = {
+                "title": "P4 attempt",
+                "description": "desc",
+                "school": school.pk,
+            }
+
+            self.user = user
+            self.school = school
+
     def setUp(self):
         self.data = self.Data()
 
+    def test_pi_cannot_create_more_than_three_projects(self):
+        """Test that a PI cannot create more than MAX_PROJECTS_PER_PI projects."""
+        user = self.data.initial_fields["pi"]
+
+        # Create 3 existing projects for this PI
+        for i in range(3):
+            Project.objects.create(
+                pi=user,
+                title=f"Existing {i}",
+                description="d",
+                school=self.data.initial_fields["school"],
+                status=ProjectStatusChoice.objects.get(name="New"),
+            )
+
+        self.assertEqual(3, Project.objects.filter(pi=user).count())
+
+        self.client.force_login(user)
+
+        post_data = {
+            "title": "P4 attempt",
+            "description": "desc",
+            "school": self.data.initial_fields["school"].pk,
+        }
+
+        resp = self.client.post(reverse("project-create"), data=post_data)
+
+        # You are redirecting on failure (Location should show /project/)
+        self.assertEqual(302, resp.status_code)
+        self.assertEqual("/project/", resp["Location"])
+
+        # Core requirement: still only 3 projects
+        self.assertEqual(3, Project.objects.filter(pi=user).count())
+
     def test_fields_generic(self):
         """Test that generic project fields save correctly"""
         self.assertEqual(0, len(Project.objects.all()))
diff --git a/coldfront/core/project/views.py b/coldfront/core/project/views.py
index def15489b..bd5f385a2 100644
--- a/coldfront/core/project/views.py
+++ b/coldfront/core/project/views.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 from django.views.generic import CreateView, DetailView, ListView, UpdateView
 from django.views.generic.base import TemplateView
 from django.views.generic.edit import FormView
-
+from django.db import transaction
 from coldfront.core.allocation.models import (
     Allocation,
     AllocationStatusChoice,
@@ -592,10 +592,11 @@ def post(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
         return redirect(reverse("project-detail", kwargs={"pk": project.pk}))
 
 
+MAX_PROJECTS_PER_PI = import_from_settings("MAX_PROJECTS_PER_PI")
+
 class ProjectCreateView(LoginRequiredMixin, UserPassesTestMixin, CreateView):
     model = Project
     template_name_suffix = "_create_form"
-    # Add one more field here
     fields = [
         "title",
         "description",
@@ -609,16 +610,40 @@ def test_func(self):
 
         if self.request.user.userprofile.is_pi:
             return True
+        return False
+
+    def dispatch(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
+        # Block early for nicer UX (still keep the check in form_valid for safety)
+        user = request.user
+        if (
+            user.is_authenticated
+            and not user.is_superuser
+            and hasattr(user, "userprofile")
+            and user.userprofile.is_pi
+            and Project.objects.filter(pi=user).count() >= MAX_PROJECTS_PER_PI
+        ):
+            messages.error(request, f"You can only create up to {MAX_PROJECTS_PER_PI} projects.")
+            return redirect("project-list")  # change to wherever you want to send them
+        return super().dispatch(request, *args, **kwargs)
 
     def form_valid(self, form):
-        project_obj = form.save(commit=False)
-        form.instance.pi = self.request.user
-        form.instance.status = ProjectStatusChoice.objects.get(name="New")
-        project_obj.save()
-        self.object = project_obj
-
-        project_user_obj = ProjectUser.objects.create(
-            user=self.request.user,
+        user = self.request.user
+
+        with transaction.atomic():
+            current_count = Project.objects.select_for_update().filter(pi=user).count()
+            if current_count >= MAX_PROJECTS_PER_PI:
+                form.add_error(None, f"You can only create up to {MAX_PROJECTS_PER_PI} projects.")
+                return self.form_invalid(form)
+
+            project_obj = form.save(commit=False)
+            project_obj.pi = user
+            project_obj.status = ProjectStatusChoice.objects.get(name="New")
+            project_obj.save()
+            self.object = project_obj
+
+
+        ProjectUser.objects.create(
+            user=user,
             project=project_obj,
             role=ProjectUserRoleChoice.objects.get(name="Manager"),
             status=ProjectUserStatusChoice.objects.get(name="Active"),