diff --git a/pkg/crd/markers/package.go b/pkg/crd/markers/package.go
index ea49988a6..1d4c57432 100644
--- a/pkg/crd/markers/package.go
+++ b/pkg/crd/markers/package.go
@@ -24,5 +24,7 @@ func init() {
 	AllDefinitions = append(AllDefinitions,
 		markers.Must(markers.MakeDefinition("groupName", markers.DescribesPackage, "")),
 		markers.Must(markers.MakeDefinition("versionName", markers.DescribesPackage, "")),
+		markers.Must(markers.MakeDefinition("kubebuilder:validation:Optional", markers.DescribesPackage, struct{}{})),
+		markers.Must(markers.MakeDefinition("kubebuilder:validation:Required", markers.DescribesPackage, struct{}{})),
 	)
 }
diff --git a/pkg/crd/markers/validation.go b/pkg/crd/markers/validation.go
index cf2e90ea6..fbe19bf41 100644
--- a/pkg/crd/markers/validation.go
+++ b/pkg/crd/markers/validation.go
@@ -26,7 +26,8 @@ import (
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-tools/pkg/markers"
 )
 
-// ValidationMarkers lists all available markers that affect CRD schema generation.
+// ValidationMarkers lists all available markers that affect CRD schema generation,
+// except for the few that don't make sense as type-level markers (see FieldOnlyMarkers).
 // All markers start with `+kubebuilder:validation:`, and continue with their type name.
 // A copy is produced of all markers that describes types as well, for making types
 // reusable and writing complex validations on slice items.
@@ -60,6 +61,14 @@ var ValidationMarkers = mustMakeAllWithPrefix("kubebuilder:validation", markers.
 	Nullable(false),
 )
 
+// FieldOnlyMarkers list field-specific validation markers (i.e. those markers that don't make
+// sense on a type, and thus aren't in ValidationMarkers).
+var FieldOnlyMarkers = []*markers.Definition{
+	markers.Must(markers.MakeDefinition("kubebuilder:validation:Required", markers.DescribesField, struct{}{})),
+	markers.Must(markers.MakeDefinition("kubebuilder:validation:Optional", markers.DescribesField, struct{}{})),
+	markers.Must(markers.MakeDefinition("optional", markers.DescribesField, struct{}{})),
+}
+
 func init() {
 	AllDefinitions = append(AllDefinitions, ValidationMarkers...)
 
@@ -88,6 +97,8 @@ type Enum []interface{}
 type Format string
 type Type string
 type Nullable bool
+type Required struct{}
+type Optional struct{}
 
 func (m Maximum) ApplyToSchema(schema *v1beta1.JSONSchemaProps) error {
 	if schema.Type != "integer" {
diff --git a/pkg/crd/parser.go b/pkg/crd/parser.go
index 10a3c3405..c2fe07126 100644
--- a/pkg/crd/parser.go
+++ b/pkg/crd/parser.go
@@ -151,7 +151,15 @@ func (p *Parser) NeedSchemaFor(typ TypeIdent) {
 	p.Schemata[typ] = apiext.JSONSchemaProps{}
 
 	schemaCtx := newSchemaContext(typ.Package, p)
-	schema := infoToSchema(schemaCtx.ForInfo(info))
+	ctxForInfo := schemaCtx.ForInfo(info)
+
+	pkgMarkers, err := markers.PackageMarkers(p.Collector, typ.Package)
+	if err != nil {
+		typ.Package.AddError(err)
+	}
+	ctxForInfo.PackageMarkers = pkgMarkers
+
+	schema := infoToSchema(ctxForInfo)
 
 	p.Schemata[typ] = *schema
 
diff --git a/pkg/crd/schema.go b/pkg/crd/schema.go
index 6e545698f..7d67727ec 100644
--- a/pkg/crd/schema.go
+++ b/pkg/crd/schema.go
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ type schemaContext struct {
 	info *markers.TypeInfo
 
 	schemaRequester schemaRequester
+	PackageMarkers  markers.MarkerValues
 }
 
 // newSchemaContext constructs a new schemaContext for the given package and schema requester.
@@ -342,8 +343,26 @@ func structToSchema(ctx *schemaContext, structType *ast.StructType) *v1beta1.JSO
 		fieldName := jsonOpts[0]
 		inline = inline || fieldName == "" // anonymous fields are inline fields in YAML/JSON
 
-		if !inline && !omitEmpty {
-			props.Required = append(props.Required, fieldName)
+		// if no default required mode is set, default to required
+		defaultMode := "required"
+		if ctx.PackageMarkers.Get("kubebuilder:validation:Optional") != nil {
+			defaultMode = "optional"
+		}
+
+		switch defaultMode {
+		// if this package isn't set to optional default...
+		case "required":
+			// ...everything that's not inline, omitempty, or explicitly optional is required
+			if !inline && !omitEmpty && field.Markers.Get("kubebuilder:validation:Optional") == nil && field.Markers.Get("optional") == nil {
+				props.Required = append(props.Required, fieldName)
+			}
+
+		// if this package isn't set to required default...
+		case "optional":
+			// ...everything that isn't explicitly required is optional
+			if field.Markers.Get("kubebuilder:validation:Required") != nil {
+				props.Required = append(props.Required, fieldName)
+			}
 		}
 
 		propSchema := typeToSchema(ctx.ForInfo(&markers.TypeInfo{}), field.RawField.Type)