diff --git a/pagure/default_config.py b/pagure/default_config.py
index d3c3e48..3456480 100644
--- a/pagure/default_config.py
+++ b/pagure/default_config.py
@@ -60,6 +60,9 @@ ENABLE_USER_MNGT = True
 # Enables / Disables managing groups via the UI
 ENABLE_GROUP_MNGT = True
 
+# Enables / Disables private projects
+PRIVATE_PROJECTS = False
+
 # Enables / Disables showing all the projects by default on the front page
 SHOW_PROJECTS_INDEX = ['repos', 'myrepos', 'myforks']
 
diff --git a/pagure/templates/new_project.html b/pagure/templates/new_project.html
index b141ac9..bf22010 100644
--- a/pagure/templates/new_project.html
+++ b/pagure/templates/new_project.html
@@ -20,7 +20,9 @@
             {{ render_bootstrap_field(form.namespace, field_description="namespace of the project") }}
             {{ render_bootstrap_field(form.url, field_description="url of the project's website") }}
             {{ render_bootstrap_field(form.avatar_email, field_description="libravatar email address avatar email") }}
-            {{ render_bootstrap_field(form.private, field_description="To mark the repo private") }}
+            {% if config.get('PRIVATE_PROJECTS', False) %}
+                    {{ render_bootstrap_field(form.private, field_description="To mark the repo private") }}
+            {% endif %}
             {{ render_bootstrap_field(form.create_readme, field_description="Create a README file automatically") }}
             <input class="btn btn-primary" type="submit" value="Create" title="Update description">
             <input type="button" class="btn btn-default pull-md-right"
diff --git a/pagure/ui/app.py b/pagure/ui/app.py
index c145dae..8b14f3e 100644
--- a/pagure/ui/app.py
+++ b/pagure/ui/app.py
@@ -443,7 +443,9 @@ def new_project():
         namespace = form.namespace.data
         if namespace:
             namespace = namespace.strip()
-        private = form.private.data
+        private = False
+        if pagure.APP.config.get('PRIVATE_PROJECTS', False):
+            private = form.private.data
 
         try:
             pagure.lib.new_project(