diff --git a/src/common-principles.md b/src/common-principles.md
index 4e5509ac7b..454ecb2bad 100644
--- a/src/common-principles.md
+++ b/src/common-principles.md
@@ -202,6 +202,11 @@ as the labels would collide on a case-insensitive filesystem.
 Additionally, because the suffix `eeg` is defined,
 then the suffix `EEG` will not be added to future versions of the standard.
 
+### Dotfiles
+
+Files and directories starting with a dot (`.`) are reserved for system use and no valid recognized BIDS file or directory can start with a `.`.
+Any file or directory starting with a `.` present in a BIDS dataset is considered hidden and not subject to BIDS validation.
+
 ## Uniqueness of data files
 
 Data files MUST be uniquely identified by BIDS path components
diff --git a/tools/schemacode/src/bidsschematools/__main__.py b/tools/schemacode/src/bidsschematools/__main__.py
index 777bea2d87..5f86cacad4 100644
--- a/tools/schemacode/src/bidsschematools/__main__.py
+++ b/tools/schemacode/src/bidsschematools/__main__.py
@@ -169,7 +169,9 @@ def pre_receive_hook(schema, input_, output):
                 logger.debug("Validating files, first file: %s", filename)
                 any_files = True
             filename = filename.strip()
-            if any(_bidsignore_check(pattern, filename, "") for pattern in ignore):
+            if filename.startswith(".") or any(
+                _bidsignore_check(pattern, filename, "") for pattern in ignore
+            ):
                 continue
             if not any(re.match(regex, filename) for regex in regexes):
                 print(filename, file=output)