diff --git a/zddc/internal/handler/profilehandler.go b/zddc/internal/handler/profilehandler.go
index 6adf970..6df7dab 100644
--- a/zddc/internal/handler/profilehandler.go
+++ b/zddc/internal/handler/profilehandler.go
@@ -148,6 +148,12 @@ type AccessView struct {
 	IsSuperAdmin          bool          `json:"is_super_admin"`
 	HasAnyAdminScope      bool          `json:"has_any_admin_scope"`
 	CanElevate            bool          `json:"can_elevate"`
+	// CanCreateProject is true when the caller is authorized to mkdir a
+	// new top-level project — either via the root .zddc granting `c` to
+	// their email/role, or via super-admin authority (elevated). Drives
+	// the visibility of the profile page's "+ New project" form so the
+	// UI doesn't dangle an affordance the server would 404.
+	CanCreateProject      bool          `json:"can_create_project"`
 	Projects              []ProjectInfo `json:"projects"`
 	AdminSubtrees         []treeEntry   `json:"admin_subtrees"`
 	EditableParentChoices []treeEntry   `json:"editable_parent_choices"`
@@ -173,6 +179,13 @@ func enumerateAccess(ctx context.Context, decider policy.Decider, cfg config.Con
 	// Drives the header elevation toggle's visibility — an un-
 	// elevated admin still needs to see the toggle they'd flip.
 	view.CanElevate = zddc.HasAnyAdminGrant(cfg.Root, p.Email)
+	// CanCreateProject mirrors the gate in serveProfileProjectsCreate —
+	// same decider call, same authority, no daylight between the UI
+	// affordance and the endpoint.
+	if rootChain, perr := zddc.EffectivePolicy(cfg.Root, cfg.Root); perr == nil {
+		allowed, _ := policy.AllowActionFromChainP(ctx, decider, rootChain, p, "/", policy.ActionCreate)
+		view.CanCreateProject = allowed
+	}
 	for _, t := range view.AdminSubtrees {
 		if t.CanEdit {
 			view.EditableParentChoices = append(view.EditableParentChoices, t)
diff --git a/zddc/internal/handler/profilepage.go b/zddc/internal/handler/profilepage.go
index be27ab3..1c5df28 100644
--- a/zddc/internal/handler/profilepage.go
+++ b/zddc/internal/handler/profilepage.go
@@ -186,6 +186,7 @@ var profileTemplate = template.Must(template.New("profile").Parse(`<!DOCTYPE htm
 </section>
 
 <div id="subtree-admin-slot"></div>
+<div id="create-project-slot"></div>
 
 <template id="tmpl-subtree-admin">
 <section class="card">
@@ -193,10 +194,12 @@ var profileTemplate = template.Must(template.New("profile").Parse(`<!DOCTYPE htm
   <p class="help">Open the form-based editor for any subtree you administer.</p>
   <div id="editable-list"></div>
 </section>
+</template>
 
+<template id="tmpl-create-project">
 <section class="card">
   <h2>Create new project folder</h2>
-  <p class="help">Creates a directory under the chosen parent. If you fill in any of title / allow / deny / admins, a starter <code>.zddc</code> is also written; otherwise the directory is empty and inherits ACL from its ancestors.</p>
+  <p class="help">Creates a directory under the chosen parent. Your email is added to admins automatically so you administer the new project; you can also fill title / ACL / additional admins below.</p>
   <div id="cp-ok" class="ok-banner" hidden>Created.</div>
   <form id="cp-form" autocomplete="off">
     <label>Parent
@@ -215,7 +218,7 @@ var profileTemplate = template.Must(template.New("profile").Parse(`<!DOCTYPE htm
     <h3 style="font-size: 1em; margin: .8rem 0 .3rem;">ACL — Deny (optional)</h3>
     <div class="list" data-field="acl.deny"></div>
     <button type="button" class="add" data-target="acl.deny">+ Add deny rule</button>
-    <h3 style="font-size: 1em; margin: .8rem 0 .3rem;">Admins (optional)</h3>
+    <h3 style="font-size: 1em; margin: .8rem 0 .3rem;">Additional admins (optional)</h3>
     <div class="list" data-field="admins"></div>
     <button type="button" class="add" data-target="admins">+ Add admin</button>
     <div style="margin-top: 1rem;">
@@ -250,6 +253,11 @@ var profileTemplate = template.Must(template.New("profile").Parse(`<!DOCTYPE htm
 (function() {
   var prefix = {{ .ProfilePathPrefix }};
   var isSuper = {{ .IsSuperAdmin }};
+  // canCreateProject is hydrated from /.profile/access (the JSON
+  // refresh) — server-rendered HTML only knows IsSuperAdmin. Default
+  // to isSuper so the UI doesn't flicker between paint and fetch for
+  // super-admins; the JSON view overrides for non-admin grantees.
+  var canCreateProject = isSuper;
 
   function escText(s) {
     var d = document.createElement("div");
@@ -422,7 +430,11 @@ var profileTemplate = template.Must(template.New("profile").Parse(`<!DOCTYPE htm
     var sel = document.getElementById("cp-parent");
     if (!sel) return;
     sel.innerHTML = "";
-    if (isSuper) {
+    // Root is offered whenever the caller can create projects there —
+    // super-admin (full bypass) or cascade-granted "c" at the root.
+    // The server's can_create_project flag means both, since it runs
+    // the same decider gate the endpoint uses.
+    if (isSuper || canCreateProject) {
       var optRoot = document.createElement("option");
       optRoot.value = "/"; optRoot.textContent = "/ (root)";
       sel.appendChild(optRoot);
@@ -506,14 +518,27 @@ var profileTemplate = template.Must(template.New("profile").Parse(`<!DOCTYPE htm
   }
 
   function instantiateAdminScaffold(view) {
-    if (!view.has_any_admin_scope) return;
-    var tmpl = document.getElementById("tmpl-subtree-admin");
-    if (!tmpl) return;
-    var slot = document.getElementById("subtree-admin-slot");
-    slot.appendChild(tmpl.content.cloneNode(true));
-    renderEditableList(view.editable_parent_choices, view.has_any_admin_scope);
-    populateParentChoices(view.admin_subtrees);
-    wireCreateProjectForm();
+    if (view.has_any_admin_scope) {
+      var tmpl = document.getElementById("tmpl-subtree-admin");
+      if (tmpl) {
+        var slot = document.getElementById("subtree-admin-slot");
+        slot.appendChild(tmpl.content.cloneNode(true));
+        renderEditableList(view.editable_parent_choices, view.has_any_admin_scope);
+      }
+    }
+    // Create-project mounts independently on the can_create_project
+    // gate — non-admins who hold "c" at root via cascade grant get the
+    // form too. Parent-selector seeds from admin_subtrees when those
+    // exist, otherwise just root.
+    if (view.can_create_project) {
+      var cpTmpl = document.getElementById("tmpl-create-project");
+      if (cpTmpl) {
+        var cpSlot = document.getElementById("create-project-slot");
+        cpSlot.appendChild(cpTmpl.content.cloneNode(true));
+        populateParentChoices(view.editable_parent_choices || []);
+        wireCreateProjectForm();
+      }
+    }
   }
 
   fetch(prefix + "/access", { headers: { Accept: "application/json" }, credentials: "same-origin" })
@@ -523,6 +548,9 @@ var profileTemplate = template.Must(template.New("profile").Parse(`<!DOCTYPE htm
         document.getElementById("projects-loading").textContent = "Could not load access view.";
         return;
       }
+      // Hydrate the server-computed flag so populateParentChoices and
+      // any visibility check after this point sees the live value.
+      canCreateProject = !!view.can_create_project;
       renderProjects(view.projects);
       renderAdminSubtrees(view.admin_subtrees);
       instantiateAdminScaffold(view);
diff --git a/zddc/internal/handler/profileprojects.go b/zddc/internal/handler/profileprojects.go
index e5c8497..99efdf4 100644
--- a/zddc/internal/handler/profileprojects.go
+++ b/zddc/internal/handler/profileprojects.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"path/filepath"
 
 	"codeberg.org/VARASYS/ZDDC/zddc/internal/config"
+	"codeberg.org/VARASYS/ZDDC/zddc/internal/policy"
 	"codeberg.org/VARASYS/ZDDC/zddc/internal/zddc"
 )
 
@@ -38,20 +39,21 @@ type projectCreateResponse struct {
 
 // serveProfileProjectsCreate handles POST /.profile/projects.
 //
-// Authorization is delegated to CanEditZddc on the prospective new
-// directory: the caller must have authority that would let them write a
-// .zddc at that location (super-admin via root admins, or a strict-ancestor
-// admin grant). Non-authorized callers receive 404 to keep this endpoint's
-// existence hidden alongside the rest of the admin surface.
+// Authorization is the cascade's ActionCreate verb at the prospective
+// parent directory — the same `c` permission used everywhere else.
+// Super-admins pass via the decider's IsActiveAdmin bypass; explicitly
+// granted principals (e.g., `*@example.com: c` on the root .zddc) pass
+// via the normal ACL path. Non-authorized callers receive 404 to keep
+// this endpoint's existence hidden alongside the rest of /.profile.
+//
+// The new project's .zddc is seeded with the creator's email in
+// `admins:` (unless the request body supplied an explicit list). That
+// makes them subtree admin of their own project from birth — they can
+// manage deeper .zddc files, define roles, set per-stage ACLs. The
+// strict-ancestor rule still applies to /<project>/.zddc itself; that
+// stays editable only by ancestor admins (root super-admins).
 func serveProfileProjectsCreate(cfg config.Config, w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
-	// Admin gate first so non-admins (AND un-elevated admins) see 404
-	// regardless of method, matching the rest of /.profile/'s existence-
-	// leakage policy.
 	p := PrincipalFromContext(r)
-	if !hasAnyAdminScope(cfg.Root, p) {
-		http.NotFound(w, r)
-		return
-	}
 	if r.Method != http.MethodPost {
 		w.Header().Set("Allow", "POST")
 		http.Error(w, "Method Not Allowed", http.StatusMethodNotAllowed)
@@ -81,27 +83,47 @@ func serveProfileProjectsCreate(cfg config.Config, w http.ResponseWriter, r *htt
 		return
 	}
 
-	newDir := filepath.Join(parentAbs, req.Name)
-	if !zddc.CanEditZddc(cfg.Root, newDir, p) {
+	// Cascade-driven authorization: ActionCreate at the parent directory.
+	// 404 (not 403) on deny to match the rest of /.profile/'s existence-
+	// hiding policy.
+	parentChain, err := zddc.EffectivePolicy(cfg.Root, parentAbs)
+	if err != nil {
+		http.Error(w, "Internal Server Error", http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		return
+	}
+	parentRel, _ := filepath.Rel(cfg.Root, parentAbs)
+	parentURL := "/"
+	if parentRel != "." && parentRel != "" {
+		parentURL = "/" + filepath.ToSlash(parentRel) + "/"
+	}
+	allowed, _ := policy.AllowActionFromChainP(r.Context(), DeciderFromContext(r), parentChain, p, parentURL, policy.ActionCreate)
+	if !allowed {
 		http.NotFound(w, r)
 		return
 	}
 
+	newDir := filepath.Join(parentAbs, req.Name)
 	if _, err := os.Stat(newDir); err == nil {
 		http.Error(w, "Conflict: directory already exists", http.StatusConflict)
 		return
 	}
 
-	// If the body supplies any .zddc fields, validate them BEFORE we mkdir
-	// so a validation failure leaves no on-disk trace.
-	wantsZddc := req.Title != "" || (req.ACL != nil && (len(req.ACL.Allow) > 0 || len(req.ACL.Deny) > 0)) || len(req.Admins) > 0
+	// Always seed a starter .zddc — the creator becomes subtree admin of
+	// their new project. Caller can also pass title / ACL / extra
+	// admins on top.
+	admins := req.Admins
+	if len(admins) == 0 && p.Email != "" {
+		admins = []string{p.Email}
+	}
 	var zf zddc.ZddcFile
+	zf.Title = req.Title
+	if req.ACL != nil {
+		zf.ACL = *req.ACL
+	}
+	zf.Admins = admins
+	wantsZddc := len(zf.Admins) > 0 || zf.Title != "" ||
+		(req.ACL != nil && (len(req.ACL.Allow) > 0 || len(req.ACL.Deny) > 0 || len(req.ACL.Permissions) > 0))
 	if wantsZddc {
-		zf.Title = req.Title
-		if req.ACL != nil {
-			zf.ACL = *req.ACL
-		}
-		zf.Admins = req.Admins
 		if errs := zddc.ValidateFile(zf); len(errs) > 0 {
 			w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json; charset=utf-8")
 			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusBadRequest)
diff --git a/zddc/internal/handler/profileprojects_test.go b/zddc/internal/handler/profileprojects_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..437b73e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/zddc/internal/handler/profileprojects_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+package handler
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+
+	"codeberg.org/VARASYS/ZDDC/zddc/internal/config"
+	"codeberg.org/VARASYS/ZDDC/zddc/internal/zddc"
+)
+
+// projectCreateFixture lays out a deployment whose root .zddc grants
+// `c` (create) to `*@example.com` so non-admin members can spin up
+// projects, with `admin@example.com` as the super-admin escape hatch.
+func projectCreateFixture(t *testing.T) (config.Config, string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	root := t.TempDir()
+	mustWriteHelper(t, filepath.Join(root, ".zddc"),
+		"admins:\n  - admin@example.com\n"+
+			"acl:\n  permissions:\n    \"*@example.com\": c\n")
+	zddc.InvalidateCache(root)
+	return config.Config{Root: root, EmailHeader: "X-Auth-Request-Email", MaxWriteBytes: 64 * 1024}, root
+}
+
+func doProjectCreate(cfg config.Config, email string, elevated bool, body []byte) *httptest.ResponseRecorder {
+	req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, "/.profile/projects", bytes.NewReader(body))
+	req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+	ctx := context.WithValue(req.Context(), EmailKey, email)
+	ctx = context.WithValue(ctx, ElevatedKey, elevated)
+	req = req.WithContext(ctx)
+	rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	serveProfileProjectsCreate(cfg, rec, req)
+	return rec
+}
+
+// Non-admin user holds `c` at root via cascade — succeeds, becomes
+// subtree admin of the new project.
+func TestProjectCreate_CascadeGrantedUserBecomesSubtreeAdmin(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg, root := projectCreateFixture(t)
+	body, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]any{"parent": "/", "name": "Project-1", "title": "My project"})
+	rec := doProjectCreate(cfg, "alice@example.com", false, body)
+	if rec.Code != http.StatusCreated {
+		t.Fatalf("status=%d body=%s", rec.Code, rec.Body.String())
+	}
+	zddc.InvalidateCache(root)
+	// Verify the new project .zddc names alice as admin.
+	zf, err := zddc.ParseFile(filepath.Join(root, "Project-1", ".zddc"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("read new .zddc: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(zf.Admins) != 1 || zf.Admins[0] != "alice@example.com" {
+		t.Errorf("Admins=%v, want [alice@example.com]", zf.Admins)
+	}
+	if zf.Title != "My project" {
+		t.Errorf("Title=%q, want %q", zf.Title, "My project")
+	}
+}
+
+// User with no grant at root — 404 (existence-hidden).
+func TestProjectCreate_UnauthenticatedUserDenied(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg, _ := projectCreateFixture(t)
+	body, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]any{"parent": "/", "name": "ShouldFail"})
+	rec := doProjectCreate(cfg, "stranger@other.org", false, body)
+	if rec.Code != http.StatusNotFound {
+		t.Errorf("status=%d, want 404", rec.Code)
+	}
+}
+
+// Super-admin elevated — succeeds via decider's IsActiveAdmin bypass,
+// not via explicit ACL grant. Admins default to creator email.
+func TestProjectCreate_ElevatedSuperAdminWithDefaultAdmins(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg, root := projectCreateFixture(t)
+	body, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]any{"parent": "/", "name": "AdminProj"})
+	rec := doProjectCreate(cfg, "admin@example.com", true, body)
+	if rec.Code != http.StatusCreated {
+		t.Fatalf("status=%d body=%s", rec.Code, rec.Body.String())
+	}
+	zddc.InvalidateCache(root)
+	zf, _ := zddc.ParseFile(filepath.Join(root, "AdminProj", ".zddc"))
+	if len(zf.Admins) != 1 || zf.Admins[0] != "admin@example.com" {
+		t.Errorf("default Admins=%v, want [admin@example.com]", zf.Admins)
+	}
+}
+
+// Caller passes explicit admins list — used instead of auto-defaulting.
+func TestProjectCreate_ExplicitAdminsListWins(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg, root := projectCreateFixture(t)
+	body, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]any{
+		"parent": "/",
+		"name":   "TeamProj",
+		"admins": []string{"alice@example.com", "bob@example.com"},
+	})
+	rec := doProjectCreate(cfg, "alice@example.com", false, body)
+	if rec.Code != http.StatusCreated {
+		t.Fatalf("status=%d body=%s", rec.Code, rec.Body.String())
+	}
+	zddc.InvalidateCache(root)
+	zf, _ := zddc.ParseFile(filepath.Join(root, "TeamProj", ".zddc"))
+	if len(zf.Admins) != 2 {
+		t.Errorf("Admins=%v, want 2 entries", zf.Admins)
+	}
+}
+
+// Re-creating an existing project name fails 409 — duplicate detection
+// runs before the admin seed write.
+func TestProjectCreate_DuplicateNameRejected(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg, root := projectCreateFixture(t)
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(root, "Existing"), 0o755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	body, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]any{"parent": "/", "name": "Existing"})
+	rec := doProjectCreate(cfg, "alice@example.com", false, body)
+	if rec.Code != http.StatusConflict {
+		t.Errorf("status=%d, want 409", rec.Code)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/zddc/internal/handler/tables.html b/zddc/internal/handler/tables.html
index f46b3b8..10d94f2 100644
--- a/zddc/internal/handler/tables.html
+++ b/zddc/internal/handler/tables.html
@@ -1559,7 +1559,7 @@ body.is-elevated {
             </svg>
             <div class="header-title-group">
                 <span class="app-header__title" id="table-title">ZDDC Table</span>
-                <span class="build-timestamp"><span style="color:red;font-weight:bold">v0.0.17-alpha · 2026-05-18 14:54:41 · 63fc433-dirty</span></span>
+                <span class="build-timestamp"><span style="color:red;font-weight:bold">v0.0.17-alpha · 2026-05-18 15:25:14 · fd4f03a-dirty</span></span>
             </div>
         </div>
         <div class="header-right">