diff --git a/migrations/18_grant_reporting_ro.sql b/migrations/18_grant_reporting_ro.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ee16da3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/18_grant_reporting_ro.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+-- 18_grant_reporting_ro.sql
+-- Read-only access to the reporting.* layer for grafana_ro.
+--
+-- grafana_ro is the read-only role the STAGING dashboard_api connects as (it reads
+-- the prod DB but must be physically unable to write — see
+-- docs/STAGING_FLEETOPS_ARCHITECTURE.md §6). It already reads tracksolid.* (Grafana
+-- + the migration-07 analytics views), but was never granted SELECT on the
+-- reporting.* map/analytics layer (migration 11) — the prod dashboard_api connects
+-- as the app/superuser role, so the gap went unnoticed until the read-only staging
+-- instance hit "permission denied for view v_filter_drivers / v_daily_summary".
+--
+-- This grants USAGE + SELECT across reporting.* and sets DEFAULT PRIVILEGES so any
+-- future reporting view/table is auto-readable by grafana_ro (no re-grant needed).
+-- Read-only only: no INSERT/UPDATE/DELETE, so grafana_ro still cannot write or
+-- REFRESH. Guarded + idempotent -> safe to re-apply.
+
+DO $grants$
+BEGIN
+  IF EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM pg_roles WHERE rolname = 'grafana_ro') THEN
+    GRANT USAGE ON SCHEMA reporting TO grafana_ro;
+    GRANT SELECT ON ALL TABLES IN SCHEMA reporting TO grafana_ro;          -- includes views
+    ALTER DEFAULT PRIVILEGES IN SCHEMA reporting GRANT SELECT ON TABLES TO grafana_ro;
+  END IF;
+END $grants$;
diff --git a/run_migrations.py b/run_migrations.py
index 41a7b27..3514363 100644
--- a/run_migrations.py
+++ b/run_migrations.py
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ MIGRATIONS = [
     "15_map_exclude_cost_centres.sql",     # hide personal/management/mtn vehicles from the live map
     "16_live_feed_vehicle_type.sql",       # add vehicle_type + fleet_segment to fn_live_positions feed
     "17_fleetops_fuel_view.sql",           # reporting.v_fuel_daily — FleetOps GET /analytics/fuel source
+    "18_grant_reporting_ro.sql",           # grant SELECT on reporting.* to grafana_ro (staging read-only role)
 ]
 
 # ── Tables that must exist before the service is allowed to start ─────────────