diff --git a/TShockAPI/ConfigFile.cs b/TShockAPI/ConfigFile.cs
index 61f53364..97711b48 100644
--- a/TShockAPI/ConfigFile.cs
+++ b/TShockAPI/ConfigFile.cs
@@ -209,6 +209,9 @@ namespace TShockAPI
 
         [Description("Server password required to join server")]
         public string ServerPassword = "";
+
+        [Description("Protect chests with region and build permissions")]
+        public bool RegionProtectChests = false;
         
 		public static ConfigFile Read(string path)
         {
diff --git a/TShockAPI/GetDataHandlers.cs b/TShockAPI/GetDataHandlers.cs
index 9a0ed25e..2512172a 100644
--- a/TShockAPI/GetDataHandlers.cs
+++ b/TShockAPI/GetDataHandlers.cs
@@ -1136,7 +1136,7 @@ namespace TShockAPI
                 return true;
             }
 
-            if (TShock.CheckTilePermission(args.Player, x, y))
+            if (TShock.CheckTilePermission(args.Player, x, y) && TShock.Config.RegionProtectChests)
             {
                 return false;
             }
@@ -1170,7 +1170,7 @@ namespace TShockAPI
                 return false;
             }
 
-            if (TShock.CheckTilePermission(args.Player, Main.chest[id].x, Main.chest[id].y))
+            if (TShock.CheckTilePermission(args.Player, Main.chest[id].x, Main.chest[id].y) && TShock.Config.RegionProtectChests)
             {
                 return false;
             }