diff --git a/.changelog/unreleased/104-docs-gate.md b/.changelog/unreleased/104-docs-gate.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e7bc937
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changelog/unreleased/104-docs-gate.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+- **repo-required-gate gains an opt-in `docs-system` docs gate.** New boolean input (default false, same opt-in pattern as `stack`): when true, pull_request runs add a `docs-gate` job (`npm run docs:render -- --check` + `node scripts/doc-health/health.mjs --repo . --changed-from origin/<base> --json`) aggregated by `decision` with skipped != failed for non-opted consumers. Its package-manager detection is lockfile-aware — `npm ci` only when a `package-lock.json` exists, else `npm install --no-package-lock` — mirroring `node-ci.yml`, so a docs consumer that ships `package.json` + docs scripts without a committed lockfile isn't failed before either check runs. The `examples/changelog-fragment.yml` and `examples/repo-update-log-fragment.yml` caller stubs are retired (guidance cleanup only — the reusable workflow bodies stay). (#104)
diff --git a/.github/workflows/repo-required-gate.yml b/.github/workflows/repo-required-gate.yml
index faa8594..e6ab378 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/repo-required-gate.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/repo-required-gate.yml
@@ -202,6 +202,20 @@ on:
         description: "Fail if go-generate-command leaves a dirty tree (stale committed generated code)."
         type: boolean
         default: false
+      # ---- Docs-system gate (#104) -----------------------------------------
+      docs-system:
+        description: |
+          Opt-in docs gate for repo-template docs-system consumers (same
+          opt-in pattern as `stack`). When true, a docs-gate job runs on
+          pull_request events after detect, in the consumer checkout:
+          `npm run docs:render -- --check` (fails on stale committed rendered
+          blocks) and `node scripts/doc-health/health.mjs --repo .
+          --changed-from origin/<base> --json` (fails on blocking findings).
+          Requires the repo-template docs-system scripts. Consumers that
+          leave this false are unaffected: the job is skipped and the
+          decision job does not require it (skipped != failed).
+        type: boolean
+        default: false
       workflow-library-ref:
         description: |
           Git ref (tag, branch, or SHA) of ArchonVII/github-workflows used
@@ -230,6 +244,7 @@ jobs:
       run-policy-validation: ${{ steps.detect.outputs.run-policy-validation }}
       snapshot-only: ${{ steps.detect.outputs.snapshot-only }}
       run-snapshot-validation: ${{ steps.detect.outputs.run-snapshot-validation }}
+      run-docs-gate: ${{ steps.detect.outputs.run-docs-gate }}
       forced-full: ${{ steps.detect.outputs.forced-full }}
       files-summary: ${{ steps.detect.outputs.files-summary }}
     steps:
@@ -256,6 +271,7 @@ jobs:
           SNAPSHOT_PATHS: ${{ inputs.snapshot-paths }}
           SNAPSHOT_TEST_COMMAND: ${{ inputs.snapshot-test-command }}
           FORCE_FULL_CI_LABEL: ${{ inputs.force-full-ci-label }}
+          DOCS_SYSTEM: ${{ inputs.docs-system }}
           WORKFLOW_LIBRARY_REF: ${{ inputs.workflow-library-ref }}
         with:
           script: |
@@ -303,6 +319,7 @@ jobs:
               snapshotPaths: process.env.SNAPSHOT_PATHS,
               snapshotTestCommand: process.env.SNAPSHOT_TEST_COMMAND,
               forceFullCiLabel: process.env.FORCE_FULL_CI_LABEL,
+              docsSystem: process.env.DOCS_SYSTEM === 'true',
               isPullRequest,
             });
 
@@ -319,6 +336,7 @@ jobs:
             core.setOutput('run-policy-validation', String(result.outputs.runPolicyValidation));
             core.setOutput('snapshot-only', String(result.outputs.snapshotOnly));
             core.setOutput('run-snapshot-validation', String(result.outputs.runSnapshotValidation));
+            core.setOutput('run-docs-gate', String(result.outputs.runDocsGate));
             core.setOutput('forced-full', String(result.outputs.forcedFull));
             core.setOutput('files-summary', result.filesSummary);
 
@@ -717,6 +735,69 @@ jobs:
         shell: bash
         run: ${{ inputs.snapshot-test-command }}
 
+  # Docs-system gate (#104): opt-in via the docs-system input, PR events only.
+  # Runs in the CONSUMER checkout on every lane — doc drift is precisely a
+  # docs-only concern, so the job is deliberately NOT path-routed. Conditioned
+  # on the input directly rather than on `needs.detect.outputs.run-docs-gate`:
+  # a caller whose workflow-library-ref lags this workflow body would import a
+  # classifier without that output, and an empty-string comparison would
+  # silently no-op the gate for an opted-in consumer. The detect output still
+  # exists so the lane summary reports docs-gate as required/skipped honestly.
+  docs-gate:
+    name: docs gate
+    needs:
+      - detect
+    if: always() && inputs.docs-system && github.event_name == 'pull_request' && needs.detect.outputs.ok == 'true'
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    permissions:
+      contents: read
+    steps:
+      # health.mjs --changed-from resolves the merge base with the PR base
+      # branch; the default depth-1 checkout cannot reach it, so fetch full
+      # history (also brings in origin/<base>).
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v7
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 0
+
+      - uses: actions/setup-node@v6
+        with:
+          node-version: ${{ fromJSON(inputs.node-versions)[0] }}
+
+      - name: Detect package manager
+        id: pm
+        shell: bash
+        run: |
+          if [ -f pnpm-lock.yaml ]; then
+            npm install -g pnpm
+            echo "install=pnpm install --frozen-lockfile" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          elif [ -f yarn.lock ]; then
+            echo "install=yarn install --frozen-lockfile" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          elif [ -f package-lock.json ]; then
+            echo "install=npm ci" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          else
+            # No committed lockfile: a docs-system consumer may ship
+            # package.json + docs scripts without one. `npm ci` REQUIRES a
+            # lockfile and would fail the docs gate before either check runs,
+            # so fall back to a non-lockfile install — mirrors node-ci.yml's
+            # "Detect package manager" step (node-ci.yml, no-lockfile branch).
+            # --no-package-lock keeps CI from fabricating a stray lockfile.
+            echo "install=npm install --no-package-lock" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          fi
+
+      - name: Install
+        shell: bash
+        run: ${{ steps.pm.outputs.install }}
+
+      - name: Rendered docs drift check
+        shell: bash
+        run: npm run docs:render -- --check
+
+      - name: Doc health blocking findings
+        shell: bash
+        env:
+          BASE_REF: ${{ github.base_ref }}
+        run: node scripts/doc-health/health.mjs --repo . --changed-from "origin/${BASE_REF}" --json
+
   decision:
     name: decision
     needs:
@@ -729,6 +810,7 @@ jobs:
       - python-ci
       - go-ci
       - snapshot-validation
+      - docs-gate
     if: always()
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
@@ -744,6 +826,7 @@ jobs:
           RUN_WORKFLOW_VALIDATION: ${{ inputs.run-workflow-validation && needs.detect.outputs.run-workflow-validation == 'true' }}
           RUN_POLICY_VALIDATION: ${{ inputs.run-policy-validation && needs.detect.outputs.run-policy-validation == 'true' }}
           RUN_SNAPSHOT_VALIDATION: ${{ needs.detect.outputs.run-snapshot-validation }}
+          RUN_DOCS_GATE: ${{ inputs.docs-system }}
           DETECT_RESULT: ${{ needs.detect.result }}
           CONTRACT_RESULT: ${{ needs.pr-contract.result }}
           WORKFLOW_RESULT: ${{ needs.workflow-validation.result }}
@@ -753,6 +836,7 @@ jobs:
           PYTHON_RESULT: ${{ needs.python-ci.result }}
           GO_RESULT: ${{ needs.go-ci.result }}
           SNAPSHOT_RESULT: ${{ needs.snapshot-validation.result }}
+          DOCS_GATE_RESULT: ${{ needs.docs-gate.result }}
           EVENT_NAME: ${{ github.event_name }}
           RUN_PR_CONTRACT: ${{ inputs.run-pr-contract }}
         run: |
@@ -807,6 +891,14 @@ jobs:
             require_success "snapshot validation" "$SNAPSHOT_RESULT"
           fi
 
+          # Docs gate is PR-only (mirrors pr-contract): the job itself skips
+          # on push/merge_group even for opted-in consumers, so the event
+          # guard here is load-bearing — without it every non-PR run of an
+          # opted-in consumer would fail on a skipped-but-required job.
+          if [ "$RUN_DOCS_GATE" = "true" ] && [ "$EVENT_NAME" = "pull_request" ]; then
+            require_success "docs gate" "$DOCS_GATE_RESULT"
+          fi
+
           if [ "$failed" -ne 0 ]; then
             exit 1
           fi
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 11bebde..c5f1a5a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -83,8 +83,8 @@ provider self-test workflows.
 
 | Workflow | Purpose | Caller |
 | --- | --- | --- |
-| [`changelog-fragment.yml`](.github/workflows/changelog-fragment.yml) | Requires an added `.changelog/unreleased/*.md` fragment when configured source paths change, with a label-based opt-out. | [`examples/changelog-fragment.yml`](examples/changelog-fragment.yml) |
-| [`repo-update-log-fragment.yml`](.github/workflows/repo-update-log-fragment.yml) | Requires an added `docs/repo-update-log/*.md` fragment for code/config/behavior/protected-doc/workflow/policy PRs, with a body-recorded skip only for unprotected doc-only fixes. | [`examples/repo-update-log-fragment.yml`](examples/repo-update-log-fragment.yml) |
+| [`changelog-fragment.yml`](.github/workflows/changelog-fragment.yml) | Requires an added `.changelog/unreleased/*.md` fragment when configured source paths change, with a label-based opt-out. | Example retired (#104); existing installed callers keep working. |
+| [`repo-update-log-fragment.yml`](.github/workflows/repo-update-log-fragment.yml) | Requires an added `docs/repo-update-log/*.md` fragment for code/config/behavior/protected-doc/workflow/policy PRs, with a body-recorded skip only for unprotected doc-only fixes. | Example retired (#104); existing installed callers keep working. |
 | [`doc-orphan-detector.yml`](.github/workflows/doc-orphan-detector.yml) | Scheduled backstop for committed docs stranded on pushed branches with no open PR. Reports path-only tracking issues and never commits or pushes. | [`examples/doc-orphan-detector.yml`](examples/doc-orphan-detector.yml) |
 | [`doc-policy-lint.yml`](.github/workflows/doc-policy-lint.yml) | Warning-only document-policy lint for durable docs: status headers, charter budgets, supersession links, active-doc placeholders, index coherence, and stale active-doc terms. | [`examples/doc-policy-lint.yml`](examples/doc-policy-lint.yml) |
 | [`anomaly-triage.yml`](.github/workflows/anomaly-triage.yml) | Reads a per-PR anomalies file, classifies entries as PR-related or unrelated, posts sticky review comments, and can open downstream issues. | [`examples/anomaly-triage.yml`](examples/anomaly-triage.yml) |
diff --git a/docs/repo-update-log.md b/docs/repo-update-log.md
index 1cce8ad..fc31059 100644
--- a/docs/repo-update-log.md
+++ b/docs/repo-update-log.md
@@ -15,6 +15,15 @@ This log records agent-visible repository changes that should be easy to audit l
 - **Propagation:** none | pending <repo/path> | completed <repo/path>
 ```
 
+## 2026-07-04 - Docs-gate lane (docs-system input) + fragment example cleanup
+
+- **Issue/PR:** #104 / (pending)
+- **Branch:** agent/claude/104-docs-gate
+- **Changed paths:** .github/workflows/repo-required-gate.yml, scripts/classify-pr.mjs, scripts/classify-pr.test.mjs, scripts/workflow-structure.test.mjs, examples/repo-required-gate.yml, examples/changelog-fragment.yml (deleted), examples/repo-update-log-fragment.yml (deleted), README.md, .changelog/unreleased/104-docs-gate.md, docs/repo-update-log.md
+- **What changed:** Added an opt-in `docs-system` boolean input (default false) to the reusable `repo-required-gate`. When true, a `docs-gate` job runs on pull_request events after `detect` in the consumer checkout (`npm run docs:render -- --check` + `node scripts/doc-health/health.mjs --repo . --changed-from origin/<base> --json`, fetch-depth 0 for the merge base); `decision` requires it only for opted-in consumers on pull_request events (skipped != failed, event guard mirrors pr-contract), and the job conditions on the input directly so a lagging `workflow-library-ref` cannot silently no-op the gate. `classify-pr.mjs` threads `docsSystem` → `run-docs-gate` output + lane-summary jobs lists. **Review round (PR #105 thread):** the docs-gate's "Detect package manager" step fell to `npm ci` with no lockfile guard; `npm ci` REQUIRES a `package-lock.json`, so an opted-in docs consumer that ships `package.json` + docs scripts without a committed lockfile would go red before either docs check ran. Added the same `elif [ -f package-lock.json ]` → `npm ci`, else `npm install --no-package-lock` fallback the shared `node-ci.yml` already uses (node-ci.yml "Detect package manager", no-lockfile branch). Retired the `examples/changelog-fragment.yml` and `examples/repo-update-log-fragment.yml` caller stubs (guidance cleanup only — the reusable workflow bodies stay for existing consumers; registry/baseline migration is deferred to the S3/C1/T1 cleanup). P1 of the docs-system epic (ArchonVII/repo-template#124).
+- **Verification:** TDD RED: `npx vitest run scripts/classify-pr.test.mjs scripts/workflow-structure.test.mjs` → 12 failed / 67 passed before implementation. GREEN: same command → 79/79; full `npm test` (vitest 4.1.7) → 9 files / 179 tests / 179 pass on the lane worktree (baseline on `origin/main` was 168; net +11). `actionlint .github/workflows/repo-required-gate.yml examples/repo-required-gate.yml` exited 0 locally (actionlint 1.7.7 binary). `git diff --check` exited 0. Review-round re-verify after the lockfile fallback: `actionlint .github/workflows/repo-required-gate.yml` exit 0, `npx vitest run` → 179/179.
+- **Propagation:** pending — `@v1` retag is owner-gated (retag ships the gate fleet-wide); after retag, the repo-template caller flips `docs-system: true` with a live-red scratch-branch proof (ArchonVII/repo-template#124 P1, issue #104 item 3); archon-setup snapshot refresh picks up the retired example stubs.
+
 ## 2026-07-01 - Example-caller concurrency + anomaly path filter
 
 - **Issue/PR:** #101 / (pending)
diff --git a/examples/changelog-fragment.yml b/examples/changelog-fragment.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 7464b9d..0000000
--- a/examples/changelog-fragment.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,25 +0,0 @@
-# Copy this file to `.github/workflows/changelog-fragment.yml` in any
-# consumer repo that uses the per-PR CHANGELOG fragment convention.
-
-name: Changelog Fragment
-
-on:
-  pull_request:
-    types: [opened, synchronize, edited, reopened]
-
-# Superseded runs on the same PR are pure spend — cancel them (#101).
-concurrency:
-  group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.event.pull_request.number || github.ref }}
-  cancel-in-progress: true
-
-permissions:
-  pull-requests: read
-  contents: read
-
-jobs:
-  check:
-    uses: ArchonVII/github-workflows/.github/workflows/changelog-fragment.yml@v1
-    # with:
-    #   src-path-prefix: 'src/'
-    #   fragment-dir: '.changelog/unreleased/'
-    #   opt-out-label: 'no-changelog'
diff --git a/examples/repo-required-gate.yml b/examples/repo-required-gate.yml
index 3e2dffe..1217142 100644
--- a/examples/repo-required-gate.yml
+++ b/examples/repo-required-gate.yml
@@ -137,6 +137,19 @@ jobs:
       #   src/snapshots/
       # snapshot-test-command: npm run test:snapshots
 
+      # ------ Docs-system gate (repo-template docs-system repos) ----------
+      # Opt-in, PR events only, runs on EVERY lane (doc drift is precisely a
+      # docs-only concern). When true, a docs-gate job runs after detect:
+      #   npm run docs:render -- --check          (stale committed rendered blocks)
+      #   node scripts/doc-health/health.mjs --repo . --changed-from origin/<base> --json
+      #                                           (blocking doc-health findings)
+      # Requires the repo-template docs-system scripts (docs:render npm
+      # script + scripts/doc-health/health.mjs). Leave false/absent
+      # otherwise: the job is skipped and the decision check does not
+      # require it.
+      #
+      # docs-system: true
+
       # ------ Force-full escape hatch (any stack) -------------------------
       # Default label is `ci:full`. Apply it to a PR to bypass path-based
       # routing and run the full language CI surface — e.g. a workflow-only
diff --git a/examples/repo-update-log-fragment.yml b/examples/repo-update-log-fragment.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 2461646..0000000
--- a/examples/repo-update-log-fragment.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,24 +0,0 @@
-# Copy this file to `.github/workflows/repo-update-log-fragment.yml` in repos
-# that use the per-PR `docs/repo-update-log/` fragment convention.
-
-name: Repo Update Log Fragment
-
-on:
-  pull_request:
-    types: [opened, synchronize, edited, reopened, ready_for_review]
-
-# Superseded runs on the same PR are pure spend — cancel them (#101).
-concurrency:
-  group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.event.pull_request.number || github.ref }}
-  cancel-in-progress: true
-
-permissions:
-  pull-requests: read
-  contents: read
-
-jobs:
-  check:
-    uses: ArchonVII/github-workflows/.github/workflows/repo-update-log-fragment.yml@v1
-    with:
-      workflow-library-ref: v1
-      # fragment-dir: "docs/repo-update-log/"
diff --git a/scripts/classify-pr.mjs b/scripts/classify-pr.mjs
index a064a3e..5274b83 100644
--- a/scripts/classify-pr.mjs
+++ b/scripts/classify-pr.mjs
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ const VALID_STACKS = new Set(['node', 'python', 'go', 'minimal', 'polyglot']);
  * @property {string}   [snapshotPaths]     Newline-separated patterns. Empty disables the snapshot-refresh lane.
  * @property {string}   [snapshotTestCommand] Non-empty when consumer wants the snapshot-validation job to actually run a test.
  * @property {string}   [forceFullCiLabel]  Label that forces full CI (default 'ci:full').
+ * @property {boolean}  [docsSystem]        True when the caller opted into the docs-gate lane (#104). PR events only; not path-routed.
  * @property {string}   [docExtensions]     Pipe-separated extensions (no dots).
  * @property {string}   [docPrefixes]       Newline-separated prefixes (e.g. 'docs/', '.changelog/').
  * @property {boolean}  [isPullRequest]     False for push events; classifier widens routing accordingly.
@@ -77,6 +78,7 @@ const VALID_STACKS = new Set(['node', 'python', 'go', 'minimal', 'polyglot']);
  * @property {boolean}        outputs.runPolicyValidation
  * @property {boolean}        outputs.snapshotOnly
  * @property {boolean}        outputs.runSnapshotValidation
+ * @property {boolean}        outputs.runDocsGate         True on every PR lane when docsSystem is set (doc drift is a docs concern, so docs-only PRs run it too); always false on non-PR events.
  * @property {boolean}        outputs.forcedFull
  * @property {string[]}       jobsRequired             Job ids required for this lane.
  * @property {string[]}       jobsSkipped              Job ids deliberately skipped.
@@ -98,6 +100,7 @@ export function classifyPR(input) {
     snapshotPaths = '',
     snapshotTestCommand = '',
     forceFullCiLabel = 'ci:full',
+    docsSystem = false,
     docExtensions = DEFAULT_DOC_EXTENSIONS,
     docPrefixes = DEFAULT_DOC_PREFIXES.join('\n'),
     isPullRequest = true,
@@ -155,6 +158,7 @@ export function classifyPR(input) {
       runPolicyValidation: true,
       snapshotOnly: false,
       runSnapshotValidation: false,
+      runDocsGate: false, // docs-gate job is PR-only; the decision job guards on the event too
       forcedFull: false,
     };
     return {
@@ -274,6 +278,7 @@ export function classifyPR(input) {
       runPolicyValidation: true,
       snapshotOnly: false,
       runSnapshotValidation: false,
+      runDocsGate: docsSystem,
       forcedFull: true,
     };
     return {
@@ -300,6 +305,7 @@ export function classifyPR(input) {
       runPolicyValidation: false,
       snapshotOnly: true,
       runSnapshotValidation: snapshotTestCommand.trim().length > 0,
+      runDocsGate: docsSystem,
       forcedFull: false,
     };
     return {
@@ -326,6 +332,9 @@ export function classifyPR(input) {
       runPolicyValidation: false,
       snapshotOnly: false,
       runSnapshotValidation: false,
+      // Doc drift is precisely a docs-only concern — the gate rides along
+      // even on the smallest lane when the consumer opted in.
+      runDocsGate: docsSystem,
       forcedFull: false,
     };
     return {
@@ -352,6 +361,7 @@ export function classifyPR(input) {
       runPolicyValidation: false,
       snapshotOnly: false,
       runSnapshotValidation: false,
+      runDocsGate: docsSystem,
       forcedFull: false,
     };
     return {
@@ -378,6 +388,7 @@ export function classifyPR(input) {
       runPolicyValidation: true,
       snapshotOnly: false,
       runSnapshotValidation: false,
+      runDocsGate: docsSystem,
       forcedFull: false,
     };
     return {
@@ -442,6 +453,7 @@ export function classifyPR(input) {
     runPolicyValidation: policy,
     snapshotOnly: false,
     runSnapshotValidation: false,
+    runDocsGate: docsSystem,
     forcedFull: false,
   };
 
@@ -481,6 +493,7 @@ function requiredJobs(outputs, runPrContract) {
   if (outputs.runPythonCi) jobs.push('python-ci');
   if (outputs.runGoCi) jobs.push('go-ci');
   if (outputs.runSnapshotValidation) jobs.push('snapshot-validation');
+  if (outputs.runDocsGate) jobs.push('docs-gate');
   jobs.push('decision');
   return jobs;
 }
@@ -494,6 +507,7 @@ function skippedJobs(outputs, isPullRequest) {
     'python-ci',
     'go-ci',
     'snapshot-validation',
+    'docs-gate',
   ];
   const required = new Set(requiredJobs(outputs, isPullRequest));
   return all.filter((j) => !required.has(j));
@@ -519,6 +533,7 @@ function failedResult(errors) {
       runPolicyValidation: false,
       snapshotOnly: false,
       runSnapshotValidation: false,
+      runDocsGate: false,
       forcedFull: false,
     },
     jobsRequired: ['detect'],
diff --git a/scripts/classify-pr.test.mjs b/scripts/classify-pr.test.mjs
index f74b52f..1554009 100644
--- a/scripts/classify-pr.test.mjs
+++ b/scripts/classify-pr.test.mjs
@@ -498,6 +498,61 @@ describe('classifyPR — stack=go (first-class Go lane, #51)', () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe('classifyPR — docs-system gate (#104)', () => {
+  it('50. default (docsSystem unset) → runDocsGate false, docs-gate skipped', () => {
+    const r = classifyPR(input({ files: ['src/foo.ts'] }));
+    expect(r.outputs.runDocsGate).toBe(false);
+    expect(r.jobsRequired).not.toContain('docs-gate');
+    expect(r.jobsSkipped).toContain('docs-gate');
+  });
+
+  it('51. docsSystem=true on a code PR → docs-gate required', () => {
+    const r = classifyPR(input({ files: ['src/foo.ts'], docsSystem: true }));
+    expect(r.outputs.runDocsGate).toBe(true);
+    expect(r.jobsRequired).toContain('docs-gate');
+    expect(r.jobsSkipped).not.toContain('docs-gate');
+  });
+
+  it('52. docsSystem=true on a docs-only PR → docs-gate still required (drift IS a docs concern)', () => {
+    const r = classifyPR(input({ files: ['README.md'], docsSystem: true }));
+    expect(r.lane).toBe('docs-only');
+    expect(r.outputs.runDocsGate).toBe(true);
+    expect(r.jobsRequired).toContain('docs-gate');
+  });
+
+  it('53. docsSystem=true on push events → runDocsGate false (the job is PR-only)', () => {
+    const r = classifyPR(input({ isPullRequest: false, docsSystem: true }));
+    expect(r.outputs.runDocsGate).toBe(false);
+    expect(r.jobsRequired).not.toContain('docs-gate');
+  });
+
+  it('54. docsSystem=true rides along forced-full and snapshot-refresh lanes', () => {
+    const forced = classifyPR(
+      input({ files: ['README.md'], labels: ['ci:full'], docsSystem: true }),
+    );
+    expect(forced.outputs.runDocsGate).toBe(true);
+    expect(forced.jobsRequired).toContain('docs-gate');
+
+    const snap = classifyPR(
+      input({
+        files: ['src/snapshots/foo.yml'],
+        snapshotPaths: 'src/snapshots/**',
+        snapshotTestCommand: 'npm test',
+        docsSystem: true,
+      }),
+    );
+    expect(snap.lane).toBe('snapshot-refresh');
+    expect(snap.outputs.runDocsGate).toBe(true);
+    expect(snap.jobsRequired).toContain('docs-gate');
+  });
+
+  it('55. config-error result keeps runDocsGate false', () => {
+    const r = classifyPR(input({ stack: 'kotlin', docsSystem: true }));
+    expect(r.ok).toBe(false);
+    expect(r.outputs.runDocsGate).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
+
 describe('classifyPR — polyglot with Go (node+go, #51)', () => {
   // archon's real shape: Electron/React frontend + Go backend.
   const NODE = 'frontend/**\nemain/**\npackage.json\npackage-lock.json';
diff --git a/scripts/workflow-structure.test.mjs b/scripts/workflow-structure.test.mjs
index 94f6276..62b0fe6 100644
--- a/scripts/workflow-structure.test.mjs
+++ b/scripts/workflow-structure.test.mjs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { readFileSync } from 'node:fs';
+import { existsSync, readFileSync } from 'node:fs';
 import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
 
 const readWorkflow = (name) => readFileSync(`.github/workflows/${name}.yml`, 'utf8');
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ describe('repo-required-gate workflow node delegation', () => {
       'python-ci',
       'go-ci',
       'snapshot-validation',
+      'docs-gate',
     ]) {
       const block = workflowJobBlock(body, job);
 
@@ -112,6 +113,79 @@ describe('repo-required-gate workflow node delegation', () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe('repo-required-gate docs-gate lane (#104)', () => {
+  it('declares the opt-in docs-system input defaulting to false', () => {
+    const body = readWorkflow('repo-required-gate');
+
+    const start = body.indexOf('      docs-system:');
+    const end = body.indexOf('      workflow-library-ref:');
+    expect(start).toBeGreaterThan(-1);
+    expect(end).toBeGreaterThan(start);
+
+    const inputBlock = body.slice(start, end);
+    expect(inputBlock).toContain('type: boolean');
+    expect(inputBlock).toContain('default: false');
+  });
+
+  it('runs the docs gate only for opted-in consumers on pull_request events', () => {
+    const body = readWorkflow('repo-required-gate');
+    const block = workflowJobBlock(body, 'docs-gate');
+
+    expect(block, 'docs-gate job exists').not.toBe('');
+    // Conditioned on the INPUT directly (not a detect output) so a caller
+    // whose workflow-library-ref lags this workflow body can never silently
+    // no-op the gate via a missing classifier output.
+    expect(block).toContain(
+      "if: always() && inputs.docs-system && github.event_name == 'pull_request' && needs.detect.outputs.ok == 'true'",
+    );
+    // health.mjs --changed-from needs the merge base with the PR base branch;
+    // the default depth-1 checkout cannot reach it.
+    expect(block).toContain('fetch-depth: 0');
+    expect(block).toContain('npm run docs:render -- --check');
+    expect(block).toContain(
+      'node scripts/doc-health/health.mjs --repo . --changed-from',
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('emits the run-docs-gate detect output from the classifier', () => {
+    const body = readWorkflow('repo-required-gate');
+
+    expect(body).toContain('run-docs-gate: ${{ steps.detect.outputs.run-docs-gate }}');
+    expect(body).toContain('DOCS_SYSTEM: ${{ inputs.docs-system }}');
+    // The env -> classifyPR hand-off is the one wire the env/output assertions
+    // above cannot see: without it, classifyPR gets docsSystem=undefined and
+    // run-docs-gate is silently 'false', so the lane summary reports docs-gate
+    // as skipped while decision (which reads inputs.docs-system directly)
+    // still requires it.
+    expect(body).toContain("docsSystem: process.env.DOCS_SYSTEM === 'true',");
+    expect(body).toContain(
+      "core.setOutput('run-docs-gate', String(result.outputs.runDocsGate));",
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('aggregates the docs gate in decision with skipped != failed for non-opted consumers', () => {
+    const body = readWorkflow('repo-required-gate');
+    const decision = workflowJobBlock(body, 'decision');
+
+    expect(decision, 'decision waits for docs-gate').toContain('- docs-gate');
+    expect(decision).toContain('DOCS_GATE_RESULT: ${{ needs.docs-gate.result }}');
+    expect(decision).toContain('RUN_DOCS_GATE: ${{ inputs.docs-system }}');
+    expect(decision).toContain('require_success "docs gate" "$DOCS_GATE_RESULT"');
+    // PR-only guard mirrors pr-contract: the docs-gate job itself skips on
+    // push/merge_group even for opted-in consumers, so requiring it without
+    // the event guard would fail every non-PR run of an opted-in consumer.
+    expect(decision).toContain(
+      'if [ "$RUN_DOCS_GATE" = "true" ] && [ "$EVENT_NAME" = "pull_request" ]; then',
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('documents the docs-system opt-in in the example caller', () => {
+    const body = readExample('repo-required-gate');
+
+    expect(body).toContain('# docs-system: true');
+  });
+});
+
 describe('repo-required-gate caller example', () => {
   it('runs the required gate only for ci:full label changes', () => {
     const body = readExample('repo-required-gate');
@@ -216,11 +290,13 @@ describe('repo-update-log-fragment workflow contract', () => {
     expect(body).toContain('evaluateRepoUpdateLogFragment');
   });
 
-  it('ships a caller example pinned to the reusable workflow and helper refs', () => {
-    const body = readExample('repo-update-log-fragment');
-
-    expect(body).toContain('uses: ArchonVII/github-workflows/.github/workflows/repo-update-log-fragment.yml@v1');
-    expect(body).toContain('workflow-library-ref: v1');
-    expect(body).toContain('types: [opened, synchronize, edited, reopened, ready_for_review]');
+  it('no longer ships the retired fragment caller example stubs (#104)', () => {
+    // Guidance cleanup only: the reusable workflow BODIES stay (existing
+    // consumers still call them); only the examples/ stubs are retired so
+    // new-workflow guidance stops pointing agents at fragment callers.
+    expect(existsSync('examples/changelog-fragment.yml')).toBe(false);
+    expect(existsSync('examples/repo-update-log-fragment.yml')).toBe(false);
+    expect(existsSync('.github/workflows/changelog-fragment.yml')).toBe(true);
+    expect(existsSync('.github/workflows/repo-update-log-fragment.yml')).toBe(true);
   });
 });