diff --git a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
index e5ef779df58..39203dabfb6 100644
--- a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
+++ b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
-Fixes #.
+Fixes #
+Design discussion issue #
 
 ## Changes
 
 Please provide a brief description of the changes here.
 
-For significant contributions please make sure you have completed the following items:
+## Merge requirement checklist
 
-* [ ] Appropriate `CHANGELOG.md` updated for non-trivial changes
-* [ ] Design discussion issue #
-* [ ] Changes in public API reviewed
+* [ ] [CONTRIBUTING](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-dotnet/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md) guidelines followed (nullable enabled, static analysis, etc.)
+* [ ] Unit tests added/updated
+* [ ] Appropriate `CHANGELOG.md` files updated for non-trivial changes
+* [ ] Changes in public API reviewed (if applicable)
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 9aec1d40d9c..c3ed947ad40 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -214,3 +214,42 @@ only and does not affect the actual build of the project.
 This repository also includes StyleCop ruleset files under the `./build` folder.
 These files are used to configure the _StyleCop.Analyzers_ which runs during
 build. Breaking the rules will result in a build failure.
+
+## New projects
+
+New projects are required to:
+
+* Use [nullable reference
+types](https://learn.microsoft.com/dotnet/csharp/language-reference/builtin-types/nullable-reference-types).
+
+   This should be enabled automatically via
+   [Common.props](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-dotnet/blob/990deee419ab4c1449efd628bed3df57a50963a6/build/Common.props#L9).
+   New project MUST NOT disable this.
+
+* Pass [static
+analysis](https://learn.microsoft.com/dotnet/fundamentals/code-analysis/overview).
+
+   New projects MUST enable static analysis by specifying
+   `<AnalysisLevel>latest-all</AnalysisLevel>` in the project file (`.csproj`).
+
+> **Note**
+> There are other project-level features enabled automatically via
+[Common.props](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-dotnet/blob/main/build/Common.props)
+new projects must NOT manually override these settings.
+
+## New code
+
+New code files MUST enable [nullable reference
+types](https://learn.microsoft.com/dotnet/csharp/language-reference/builtin-types/nullable-reference-types)
+manually in projects where it is not automatically enabled project-wide. This is
+done by specifying `#nullable enable` towards the top of the file (usually after
+the copyright header). We are currently working towards enabling nullable
+context in every project by updating code as it is worked on, this requirement
+is to make sure the surface area of code needing updates is shrinking and not
+expanding.
+
+> **Note**
+> The first time a project is updated to use nullable context in public APIs
+some housekeeping needs to be done in public API definitions (`.publicApi`
+folder). This can be done automatically via a code fix offered by the public API
+analyzer.
diff --git a/examples/MicroserviceExample/WebApi/WebApi.csproj b/examples/MicroserviceExample/WebApi/WebApi.csproj
index 876450b7176..a27ffd0fa3b 100644
--- a/examples/MicroserviceExample/WebApi/WebApi.csproj
+++ b/examples/MicroserviceExample/WebApi/WebApi.csproj
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk.Web">
   <PropertyGroup>
-    <TargetFramework>net6.0</TargetFramework>
+    <TargetFramework>net7.0</TargetFramework>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
diff --git a/examples/MicroserviceExample/WorkerService/WorkerService.csproj b/examples/MicroserviceExample/WorkerService/WorkerService.csproj
index 926e55dd6fd..efcebbc5a9f 100644
--- a/examples/MicroserviceExample/WorkerService/WorkerService.csproj
+++ b/examples/MicroserviceExample/WorkerService/WorkerService.csproj
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk.Worker">
   <PropertyGroup>
-    <TargetFramework>net6.0</TargetFramework>
+    <TargetFramework>net7.0</TargetFramework>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>