diff --git a/src/__tests__/app.test.tsx b/src/__tests__/app.test.tsx
index eecefbe1..add84446 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/app.test.tsx
+++ b/src/__tests__/app.test.tsx
@@ -444,6 +444,22 @@ describe('App', () => {
     expect(container.querySelector('[data-testid="boards-bar"]')).toBeNull();
   });
 
+  it('renders the rules route as a global static page', async () => {
+    await renderApp('/rules#mu');
+
+    expect(latestLocation).toBe('/rules');
+    expect(container.querySelector('[data-testid="rules-view"]')).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(container.querySelector('[data-testid="boards-bar"]')).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('rejects legacy rules subpaths instead of treating them as board routes', async () => {
+    await renderApp('/rules/music-posting.eth');
+
+    expect(latestLocation).toBe('/not-found');
+    expect(container.querySelector('[data-testid="not-found-view"]')).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(container.querySelector('[data-testid="rules-view"]')).toBeNull();
+  });
+
   it('canonicalizes board address routes to directory codes while preserving query strings', async () => {
     await renderApp('/music-posting.eth/thread/comment-1?focus=1');
 
diff --git a/src/app.tsx b/src/app.tsx
index 05c74f46..2774d70f 100644
--- a/src/app.tsx
+++ b/src/app.tsx
@@ -292,7 +292,8 @@ const App = () => {
           <Route path='/' element={<Home />} />
           <Route path='/faq' element={<Faq />} />
           <Route path='/pass' element={<Pass />} />
-          <Route path='/rules/:boardIdentifier?' element={<Rules />} />
+          <Route path='/rules' element={<Rules />} />
+          <Route path='/rules/*' element={<Navigate to='/not-found' replace />} />
           <Route path='/blotter' element={<Blotter />} />
           <Route
             path='/settings/account-data'
diff --git a/src/components/markdown/__tests__/markdown.test.tsx b/src/components/markdown/__tests__/markdown.test.tsx
index 518976a3..1c886d49 100644
--- a/src/components/markdown/__tests__/markdown.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/markdown/__tests__/markdown.test.tsx
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ vi.mock('../../../stores/use-post-number-store', () => ({
     }),
 }));
 
-vi.mock('../../comment-media', () => ({
+vi.mock('../../comment-media/comment-media', () => ({
   default: ({
     commentMediaInfo,
     isFloatingEmbed,
@@ -183,11 +183,11 @@ vi.mock('../../comment-media', () => ({
   },
 }));
 
-vi.mock('../../embed', () => ({
+vi.mock('../../embed/embed-utils', () => ({
   canEmbed: (parsedUrl: URL) => testState.embeddableHosts.has(parsedUrl.host),
 }));
 
-vi.mock('../../reply-quote-preview', () => ({
+vi.mock('../../reply-quote-preview/reply-quote-preview', () => ({
   default: ({
     isOP,
     isQuotelinkUnavailable,
@@ -365,14 +365,14 @@ describe('Markdown', () => {
 
   it('renders inline Markdown links for app routes and inert empty hrefs', async () => {
     await renderMarkdown({
-      content: '[Rules](/rules/biz) [AI moderation]( )',
+      content: '[Rules](/rules#biz) [Old rules](/rules/biz) [Address rules](/rules#custom-board.bso) [AI moderation]( )',
     });
 
     const links = Array.from(container.querySelectorAll('a'));
     expect(links).toHaveLength(1);
-    expect(links[0]?.getAttribute('href')).toBe('/rules/biz');
+    expect(links[0]?.getAttribute('href')).toBe('/rules#biz');
     expect(links[0]?.textContent).toBe('Rules');
-    expect(container.textContent).toBe('Rules AI moderation');
+    expect(container.textContent).toBe('Rules Old rules Address rules AI moderation');
   });
 
   it('does not render unsafe inline Markdown hrefs', async () => {
diff --git a/src/components/markdown/markdown.tsx b/src/components/markdown/markdown.tsx
index 7890cefc..2aea3a85 100644
--- a/src/components/markdown/markdown.tsx
+++ b/src/components/markdown/markdown.tsx
@@ -5,18 +5,18 @@ import { useDismiss, useFloating, useFocus, useHover, useInteractions, offset, s
 import { getLinkMediaInfo, getHasThumbnail } from '../../lib/utils/media-utils';
 import { isCatalogView } from '../../lib/utils/view-utils';
 import useIsMobile from '../../hooks/use-is-mobile';
-import CommentMedia from '../comment-media';
-import CodeBlock from '../code-block';
+import CommentMedia from '../comment-media/comment-media';
+import CodeBlock from '../code-block/code-block';
 import styles from './markdown.module.css';
 import { Link, useLocation, useParams } from 'react-router-dom';
-import { canEmbed } from '../embed';
+import { canEmbed } from '../embed/embed-utils';
 import { is5chanLink, transform5chanLinkToInternal, isValidCrossboardPattern } from '../../lib/utils/url-utils';
 import { CROSSBOARD_NUMBER_QUOTE_TOKEN_REGEX, type ExternalQuoteReference } from '../../lib/utils/external-quote-utils';
 import { isUnavailableQuoteTarget } from '../../lib/utils/quote-link-utils';
 import usePostNumberStore, { getCidForPostNumber } from '../../stores/use-post-number-store';
 import useCommunitiesPagesStore from '@bitsocial/bitsocial-react-hooks/dist/stores/communities-pages';
 import { useComment } from '@bitsocial/bitsocial-react-hooks';
-import ReplyQuotePreview from '../reply-quote-preview';
+import ReplyQuotePreview from '../reply-quote-preview/reply-quote-preview';
 import ExternalNumberQuoteLink from './external-number-quote-link';
 import { findDirectoryByAddress, useDirectories, type DirectoryCommunity } from '../../hooks/use-directories';
 import { getDirectoryCodeForBoardAddress } from '../../lib/utils/directory-list-lookup-utils';
@@ -216,6 +216,7 @@ const COMBINED_REGEX_WITHOUT_SPOILER = new RegExp(
 );
 
 const makeTokenKey = (prefix: string, type: Token['type'], start: number, end: number): string => `${prefix}${type}:${start}:${end}`;
+const RULES_HASH_ROUTE_REGEX = /^\/rules#[A-Za-z0-9_-]+$/;
 
 const isGreentextLine = (line: string): boolean => {
   if (line === '>') return true;
@@ -233,6 +234,10 @@ function normalizeInternalRouteHref(href: string): string {
   return href;
 }
 
+function isUnsupportedRulesRouteHref(href: string): boolean {
+  return href.startsWith('/rules/') || (href.startsWith('/rules#') && !RULES_HASH_ROUTE_REGEX.test(href));
+}
+
 function splitUrlTrailingText(rawHref: string): { href: string; trailingText: string } {
   let href = rawHref;
   let trailingText = '';
@@ -475,6 +480,9 @@ const AnchorLink = ({ href, text }: { href: string; text: string }) => {
     const internalPath = transform5chanLinkToInternal(href);
     if (internalPath) {
       const internalRoute = normalizeInternalRouteHref(internalPath);
+      if (isUnsupportedRulesRouteHref(internalRoute)) {
+        return <span>{text}</span>;
+      }
       let displayText: React.ReactNode = text;
       const isAutolinkedUrl = text.startsWith('http');
 
@@ -493,16 +501,21 @@ const AnchorLink = ({ href, text }: { href: string; text: string }) => {
     }
   }
 
+  const normalizedHref = normalizeInternalRouteHref(href);
+  if (isUnsupportedRulesRouteHref(normalizedHref)) {
+    return <span>{text}</span>;
+  }
+
   if (
     href.startsWith('#/') ||
     href.startsWith('/#/') ||
-    href.startsWith('/p/') ||
-    href.match(/^\/p\/[^/]+(\/c\/[^/]+)?$/) ||
-    href.match(/^\/rules\/[^/]+$/) ||
-    href.match(/^\/[^/]+(\/thread\/[^/]+)?$/) ||
-    href.match(/^\/[^/]+\/(catalog|description|rules)(\/settings)?$/)
+    normalizedHref.startsWith('/p/') ||
+    normalizedHref.match(/^\/p\/[^/]+(\/c\/[^/]+)?$/) ||
+    normalizedHref.match(RULES_HASH_ROUTE_REGEX) ||
+    normalizedHref.match(/^\/[^/#]+(\/thread\/[^/]+)?$/) ||
+    normalizedHref.match(/^\/[^/]+\/(catalog|description|rules)(\/settings)?$/)
   ) {
-    return <Link to={normalizeInternalRouteHref(href)}>{text}</Link>;
+    return <Link to={normalizedHref}>{text}</Link>;
   }
 
   return (
diff --git a/src/components/post-form/__tests__/post-form.test.tsx b/src/components/post-form/__tests__/post-form.test.tsx
index a00529f1..38e46a89 100644
--- a/src/components/post-form/__tests__/post-form.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/post-form/__tests__/post-form.test.tsx
@@ -1389,7 +1389,20 @@ describe('PostForm', () => {
     expect(promptRow?.className).toBe('rules');
     expect(promptRow?.querySelector('ul')?.className).toBe('rules');
     expect(links.map((link) => link.textContent)).toEqual(['Rules', 'FAQ']);
-    expect(links.map((link) => link.getAttribute('href'))).toEqual(['/rules/mu', '/faq']);
+    expect(links.map((link) => link.getAttribute('href'))).toEqual(['/rules#mu', '/faq']);
+  });
+
+  it('uses the plain rules page link for custom boards without a directory hash', async () => {
+    testState.resolvedCommunityAddress = 'custom-board.bso';
+
+    await renderPostForm('/custom-board.bso');
+    await clickByText(container, 'start_new_thread');
+
+    const promptRow = Array.from(container.querySelectorAll('tr')).find((row) => row.textContent === 'Please read the Rules and FAQ before posting.');
+    const links = Array.from(promptRow?.querySelectorAll('a') || []);
+
+    expect(links.map((link) => link.textContent)).toEqual(['Rules', 'FAQ']);
+    expect(links.map((link) => link.getAttribute('href'))).toEqual(['/rules', '/faq']);
   });
 
   it('shortens long pasted file-link filenames next to the upload button', async () => {
diff --git a/src/components/post-form/post-form.tsx b/src/components/post-form/post-form.tsx
index 2db00c36..b35b444b 100644
--- a/src/components/post-form/post-form.tsx
+++ b/src/components/post-form/post-form.tsx
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ import { truncateWithEllipsisInMiddle } from '../../lib/utils/string-utils';
 import { isValidPublishURL, isValidURL } from '../../lib/utils/url-utils';
 import { getModerationPostingRoleLabel } from '../../lib/utils/author-display-utils';
 import { hasModQueueAccessRole } from '../../lib/utils/mod-access';
-import { getBoardPath } from '../../lib/utils/route-utils';
+import { getBoardPath, isDirectoryRoute } from '../../lib/utils/route-utils';
 import { isAllView, isCatalogView, isModQueueView, isModView, isPostPageView, isSubscriptionsView } from '../../lib/utils/view-utils';
 import { getCommentFlagOptionsForDirectory, getCommentFlagPublishOptionsForDirectory, type CommentFlagSelectOption } from '../../lib/comment-flag-selection';
 import { FLASH_TAG_OPTIONS, getFlashTagPublishOptionsForDirectoryCode, isFlashDirectoryCode, type FlashTagOption } from '../../lib/flash-tags';
@@ -545,8 +545,9 @@ const PostFormTable = ({ closeForm, postCid }: { closeForm: () => void; postCid:
   const subscriptions = account?.subscriptions || [];
   const directories = useDirectories();
   const directoryEntry = useDirectoryEntry(effectiveBoardAddress, params?.boardIdentifier);
-  const pendingPostBoardPath = effectiveBoardAddress ? getBoardPath(effectiveBoardAddress, directories) : undefined;
-  const rulesPath = effectiveBoardAddress ? `/rules/${getBoardPath(effectiveBoardAddress, directories)}` : '/rules';
+  const effectiveBoardPath = effectiveBoardAddress ? getBoardPath(effectiveBoardAddress, directories) : undefined;
+  const pendingPostBoardPath = effectiveBoardPath;
+  const rulesPath = effectiveBoardPath && isDirectoryRoute(effectiveBoardPath, directories) ? `/rules#${effectiveBoardPath}` : '/rules';
   const showSpoilerForPost = directoryEntry?.features?.noSpoilers !== true;
   const showSpoilerForReply = directoryEntry?.features?.noSpoilerReplies !== true;
   const postOptionsDirectoryCode = getPostOptionsDirectoryCode(directoryEntry, location.pathname);
diff --git a/src/views/rules/__tests__/rules.test.tsx b/src/views/rules/__tests__/rules.test.tsx
index 70eb84f3..9d513b32 100644
--- a/src/views/rules/__tests__/rules.test.tsx
+++ b/src/views/rules/__tests__/rules.test.tsx
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ import Rules from '../rules';
 const act = (React as { act?: (cb: () => void | Promise<void>) => void | Promise<void> }).act as (cb: () => void | Promise<void>) => void | Promise<void>;
 
 const testState = vi.hoisted(() => ({
-  boardIdentifier: undefined as string | undefined,
   communities: {} as Record<string, { rules?: string[]; shortAddress?: string; state?: string; title?: string }>,
   directories: [
     { address: 'anime-posting.eth', title: '/a/ - Anime & Manga' },
@@ -31,16 +30,6 @@ vi.mock('react-i18next', () => ({
   }),
 }));
 
-vi.mock('react-router-dom', async () => {
-  const actual = await vi.importActual<typeof import('react-router-dom')>('react-router-dom');
-  return {
-    ...actual,
-    useParams: () => ({
-      boardIdentifier: testState.boardIdentifier,
-    }),
-  };
-});
-
 vi.mock('@bitsocial/bitsocial-react-hooks', () => ({
   useClientsStates: () => ({
     states: {},
@@ -60,12 +49,12 @@ vi.mock('../../../hooks/use-directories', async () => {
   };
 });
 
-vi.mock('../../home', () => ({
+vi.mock('../../home/home', () => ({
   Footer: () => createElement('div', { 'data-testid': 'footer' }, 'footer'),
   HomeLogo: () => createElement('div', { 'data-testid': 'home-logo' }, 'home-logo'),
 }));
 
-vi.mock('../../../components/markdown', () => ({
+vi.mock('../../../components/markdown/markdown', () => ({
   default: ({ content }: { content: string }) => createElement('div', { 'data-testid': 'markdown' }, content),
 }));
 
@@ -81,9 +70,9 @@ let container: HTMLDivElement;
 let root: Root;
 let scrollIntoViewMock: ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>;
 
-const renderRules = async () => {
+const renderRules = async (initialEntry = '/rules') => {
   await act(async () => {
-    root.render(createElement(MemoryRouter, null, createElement(Rules)));
+    root.render(createElement(MemoryRouter, { initialEntries: [initialEntry] }, createElement(Rules)));
   });
 };
 
@@ -110,7 +99,6 @@ const submitBoardAddress = async (address: string) => {
 describe('Rules', () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     vi.clearAllMocks();
-    testState.boardIdentifier = undefined;
     testState.communities = {};
     testState.directories = [
       { address: 'anime-posting.eth', title: '/a/ - Anime & Manga' },
@@ -141,9 +129,9 @@ describe('Rules', () => {
   it('renders a quick-jump nav link and a rules section for every directory', async () => {
     await renderRules();
 
-    // Quick-jump nav links use the directory name (like 4chan's board list) and point at the per-directory route.
-    expect(container.querySelector('a[href="/rules/a"]')?.textContent).toBe('Anime & Manga');
-    expect(container.querySelector('a[href="/rules/b"]')?.textContent).toBe('Random');
+    // Quick-jump nav links use the directory name (like 4chan's board list) and point at per-directory hash links.
+    expect(container.querySelector('a[href="/rules#a"]')?.textContent).toBe('Anime & Manga');
+    expect(container.querySelector('a[href="/rules#b"]')?.textContent).toBe('Random');
 
     // One anchored rules section per directory.
     expect(container.querySelector('#a')).toBeTruthy();
@@ -162,14 +150,28 @@ describe('Rules', () => {
     expect(container.textContent).not.toContain('Rules for:');
   });
 
-  it('insta-scrolls to a directory section when deep-linked via /rules/:code', async () => {
-    testState.boardIdentifier = 'a';
-
-    await renderRules();
+  it('insta-scrolls to a directory section when deep-linked via /rules#code', async () => {
+    await renderRules('/rules#a');
 
     expect(scrollIntoViewMock).toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
+  it('ignores address hashes instead of resolving them to directory rules or P2P rules', async () => {
+    testState.communities = {
+      'anime-posting.eth': {
+        rules: ['P2P address rules should not render from a hash.'],
+        shortAddress: 'anime-posting.eth',
+        state: 'succeeded',
+      },
+    };
+
+    await renderRules('/rules#anime-posting.eth');
+
+    expect(scrollIntoViewMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(container.textContent).not.toContain('Rules for: anime-posting.eth');
+    expect(container.textContent).not.toContain('P2P address rules should not render from a hash.');
+  });
+
   it('loads a board over P2P when an address is submitted in the loader', async () => {
     testState.communities = {
       'custom-board.eth': {
@@ -186,7 +188,7 @@ describe('Rules', () => {
     expect(container.textContent).toContain('No spamming.');
   });
 
-  it('clears a loaded P2P rules box when navigating to a directory route', async () => {
+  it('clears a loaded P2P rules box when navigating to a directory hash link', async () => {
     testState.communities = {
       'custom-board.eth': {
         rules: ['No spamming.'],
@@ -199,8 +201,10 @@ describe('Rules', () => {
     await submitBoardAddress('custom-board.eth');
     expect(container.textContent).toContain('Rules for: custom-board.eth');
 
-    testState.boardIdentifier = 'a';
-    await renderRules();
+    const link = container.querySelector('a[href="/rules#a"]') as HTMLAnchorElement;
+    await act(async () => {
+      link.dispatchEvent(new MouseEvent('click', { bubbles: true, cancelable: true }));
+    });
 
     expect(container.textContent).not.toContain('Rules for: custom-board.eth');
     expect(scrollIntoViewMock).toHaveBeenCalled();
diff --git a/src/views/rules/rules.tsx b/src/views/rules/rules.tsx
index 72d87a45..ccecc0de 100644
--- a/src/views/rules/rules.tsx
+++ b/src/views/rules/rules.tsx
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 import { Fragment, useEffect, useRef, useState, FormEvent } from 'react';
-import { Link, useParams } from 'react-router-dom';
+import { Link, useLocation } from 'react-router-dom';
 import { useCommunity } from '@bitsocial/bitsocial-react-hooks';
-import { Footer, HomeLogo } from '../home';
+import { Footer, HomeLogo } from '../home/home';
 import { useDirectories, useDirectoryDefaults, DirectoryCommunity, DirectoryDefaultsData } from '../../hooks/use-directories';
 import { useCommunityIdentifier } from '../../hooks/use-community-identifiers';
-import { getCommunityAddress, getBoardPath, isDirectoryRoute } from '../../lib/utils/route-utils';
-import Markdown from '../../components/markdown';
-import LoadingEllipsis from '../../components/loading-ellipsis';
+import { getCommunityAddress, isDirectoryRoute } from '../../lib/utils/route-utils';
+import Markdown from '../../components/markdown/markdown';
+import LoadingEllipsis from '../../components/loading-ellipsis/loading-ellipsis';
 import useStateString from '../../hooks/use-state-string';
 import styles from './rules.module.css';
 import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
@@ -59,13 +59,16 @@ const groupDirectoriesByCategory = (directories: DirectoryCommunity[], defaults:
     }))
     .filter((group) => group.communities.length > 0);
 
-// Resolve a /rules/:boardIdentifier segment (directory code or board address) to a directory code.
-const resolveDirectoryCode = (identifier: string, directories: DirectoryCommunity[]): string | null => {
-  if (isDirectoryRoute(identifier, directories)) {
-    return identifier;
+const getRulesHashCode = (hash: string): string => {
+  if (!hash) {
+    return '';
+  }
+  const rawHash = hash.startsWith('#') ? hash.slice(1) : hash;
+  try {
+    return decodeURIComponent(rawHash);
+  } catch {
+    return rawHash;
   }
-  const code = getBoardPath(getCommunityAddress(identifier, directories), directories);
-  return isDirectoryRoute(code, directories) ? code : null;
 };
 
 // A single directory's rules (h3 title + ordered rules), anchored by code for deep-link scrolling.
@@ -109,7 +112,7 @@ const CategoryRulesBox = ({ group, defaults }: { group: CategoryGroup; defaults:
   </div>
 );
 
-// Quick-jump nav (left column) grouped by category; clicking a directory insta-scrolls to its rules via /rules/:code.
+// Quick-jump nav (left column) grouped by category; clicking a directory insta-scrolls to its rules via /rules#code.
 const DirectoryNav = ({ groups }: { groups: CategoryGroup[] }) => (
   <div className={`${styles.box} ${styles.selectorBox}`}>
     <div className={styles.boxBar}>
@@ -129,7 +132,7 @@ const DirectoryNav = ({ groups }: { groups: CategoryGroup[] }) => (
                   const code = getDirectoryCode(community);
                   return (
                     <li key={community.address}>
-                      <Link to={`/rules/${code}`}>{getBoardName(community.title) || getDirectoryDisplayTitle(community)}</Link>
+                      <Link to={`/rules#${code}`}>{getBoardName(community.title) || getDirectoryDisplayTitle(community)}</Link>
                     </li>
                   );
                 })}
@@ -233,11 +236,12 @@ const LoadBoardRules = ({ onLoad, onClear, isLoaded }: { onLoad: (address: strin
 };
 
 const Rules = () => {
-  const { boardIdentifier } = useParams();
+  const { hash } = useLocation();
   const directories = useDirectories();
   const directoryDefaults = useDirectoryDefaults();
   const [loadedAddress, setLoadedAddress] = useState('');
   const scrolledForRef = useRef<string | null>(null);
+  const hashCode = getRulesHashCode(hash);
 
   // Order directories alphabetically by directory code (e.g. /3/, /a/, /aco/...), like 4chan, not by title.
   const directoriesWithCode = directories.filter((community) => getDirectoryCode(community)).toSorted((a, b) => getDirectoryCode(a).localeCompare(getDirectoryCode(b)));
@@ -253,24 +257,23 @@ const Rules = () => {
 
   useEffect(() => {
     setLoadedAddress('');
-    if (!boardIdentifier) {
-      scrolledForRef.current = null;
+    scrolledForRef.current = null;
+    if (!hashCode) {
       window.scrollTo(0, 0);
     }
-  }, [boardIdentifier]);
+  }, [hashCode]);
 
-  // Deep-link: /rules/:code insta-scrolls to that directory's rules once the matching section is rendered.
+  // Deep-link: /rules#code insta-scrolls to a known directory's rules once the matching section is rendered.
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (!boardIdentifier || scrolledForRef.current === boardIdentifier) {
+    if (!hashCode || scrolledForRef.current === hashCode || !isDirectoryRoute(hashCode, directories)) {
       return;
     }
-    const code = resolveDirectoryCode(boardIdentifier, directories);
-    const element = code ? document.getElementById(code) : null;
+    const element = document.getElementById(hashCode);
     if (element) {
       element.scrollIntoView();
-      scrolledForRef.current = boardIdentifier;
+      scrolledForRef.current = hashCode;
     }
-  }, [boardIdentifier, directories]);
+  }, [hashCode, directories]);
 
   return (
     <div className={styles.wrapper}>