diff --git a/app/pages/policies/refunds.vue b/app/pages/policies/refunds.vue
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2e89fa7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/pages/policies/refunds.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+<template>
+  <PageShell title="Refund Policy" subtitle="How Ghost Guild handles refund requests">
+    <div class="policy-prose">
+      <p class="policy-updated">Last updated: April 20, 2026</p>
+
+      <section class="policy-section">
+        <p>
+          Ghost Guild is a program of Baby Ghosts, a Canadian non-profit.
+          Contributions and event ticket revenue go directly toward running the
+          program. We handle refund requests on a case-by-case basis rather
+          than by blanket rule.
+        </p>
+      </section>
+
+      <section class="policy-section">
+        <h2>Membership dues</h2>
+        <p>
+          Membership is pay-what-you-can, and you can change or pause your
+          contribution any time as your situation changes. We don't refund dues
+          that have already been charged. If paying ever becomes a problem, the
+          Solidarity Fund is there for that reason; reach out and we'll work it
+          out.
+        </p>
+      </section>
+
+      <section class="policy-section">
+        <h2>Event tickets</h2>
+        <p>
+          Paid event registrations can't be cancelled from your account page.
+          Refunds for events are considered case-by-case at admin discretion,
+          taking into account how close to the event you're asking, whether
+          your spot can be filled, and the circumstances behind the request.
+        </p>
+        <p>
+          If you can no longer attend an event you've paid for, email
+          <a href="mailto:hello@ghostguild.org">hello@ghostguild.org</a> as
+          early as you can and we'll sort it out with you.
+        </p>
+      </section>
+
+      <section class="policy-section">
+        <h2>Contact</h2>
+        <p>
+          Refund requests, questions, anything else:
+          <a href="mailto:hello@ghostguild.org">hello@ghostguild.org</a>
+        </p>
+      </section>
+    </div>
+  </PageShell>
+</template>
+
+<script setup>
+useHead({
+  title: 'Refund Policy · Ghost Guild',
+})
+</script>
+
+<style scoped>
+.policy-prose {
+  max-width: 720px;
+  padding: 32px;
+}
+
+.policy-updated {
+  font-family: "Commit Mono", monospace;
+  font-size: 11px;
+  font-weight: 600;
+  letter-spacing: 0.08em;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  color: var(--candle);
+  margin-bottom: 24px;
+}
+
+.policy-section {
+  padding: 28px 0;
+  border-bottom: 1px dashed var(--border);
+}
+.policy-section:first-of-type {
+  padding-top: 0;
+}
+.policy-section:last-child {
+  border-bottom: none;
+}
+
+.policy-section h2 {
+  font-family: "Brygada 1918", serif;
+  font-size: 20px;
+  font-weight: 600;
+  color: var(--text-bright);
+  letter-spacing: -0.01em;
+  margin-bottom: 16px;
+  line-height: 1.25;
+}
+
+.policy-section p {
+  font-size: 13px;
+  color: var(--text-dim);
+  line-height: 1.7;
+  margin-bottom: 12px;
+}
+
+.policy-section a {
+  color: var(--candle);
+}
+
+.policy-section strong {
+  color: var(--text-bright);
+  font-weight: 600;
+}
+
+@media (max-width: 640px) {
+  .policy-prose {
+    padding: 20px 16px;
+  }
+}
+</style>
diff --git a/server/api/events/[id]/cancel-registration.post.js b/server/api/events/[id]/cancel-registration.post.js
index 4138f0f..87a9276 100644
--- a/server/api/events/[id]/cancel-registration.post.js
+++ b/server/api/events/[id]/cancel-registration.post.js
@@ -42,6 +42,23 @@ export default defineEventHandler(async (event) => {
       });
     }
 
+    const existingRegistration = eventDoc.registrations[registrationIndex];
+    const ticketType = existingRegistration.ticketType;
+    const amountPaid = existingRegistration.amountPaid || 0;
+    // member tickets can be free (default) or paid via circle overrides — gate on amountPaid
+    const isPaidRegistration =
+      ticketType === "public" ||
+      ticketType === "series_pass" ||
+      (ticketType === "member" && amountPaid > 0);
+
+    if (isPaidRegistration) {
+      throw createError({
+        statusCode: 403,
+        statusMessage:
+          "Paid registrations can't be self-cancelled. Email us for a refund — see /policies/refunds.",
+      });
+    }
+
     // Store registration data before removing (convert to plain object)
     const registration = {
       name: eventDoc.registrations[registrationIndex].name,