diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ApprovalBell.tsx b/frontend/src/components/ApprovalBell.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..95ff435f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ApprovalBell.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,264 @@
+import { useCallback, useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
+import { Bell, CheckCircle, ChevronDown, ChevronUp, Clock, XCircle } from 'lucide-react';
+import { approveAction, denyAction, fetchPendingApprovals } from '../lib/api';
+import type { PendingApproval } from '../lib/api';
+
+const TIER_STYLES: Record<string, { label: string; color: string; bg: string }> = {
+  trivial: { label: 'Trivial', color: 'var(--color-text-secondary)', bg: 'color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-text-secondary) 10%, transparent)' },
+  low:     { label: 'Low',     color: '#3b82f6',                    bg: 'rgba(59,130,246,0.12)' },
+  medium:  { label: 'Medium',  color: 'var(--color-warning)',       bg: 'color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-warning) 12%, transparent)' },
+  high:    { label: 'High',    color: 'var(--color-error)',         bg: 'color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-error) 12%, transparent)' },
+};
+
+function timeAgo(iso: string): string {
+  const diff = Date.now() - new Date(iso).getTime();
+  const m = Math.floor(diff / 60000);
+  if (m < 1) return 'just now';
+  if (m < 60) return `${m}m ago`;
+  const h = Math.floor(m / 60);
+  if (h < 24) return `${h}h ago`;
+  return `${Math.floor(h / 24)}d ago`;
+}
+
+export function ApprovalBell() {
+  const [approvals, setApprovals] = useState<PendingApproval[]>([]);
+  const [open, setOpen] = useState(false);
+  const [expanded, setExpanded] = useState<Record<string, boolean>>({});
+  const [processing, setProcessing] = useState<Record<string, boolean>>({});
+  const containerRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
+
+  const load = useCallback(async () => {
+    try {
+      setApprovals(await fetchPendingApprovals());
+    } catch {
+      // backend may not be running yet
+    }
+  }, []);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    load();
+    const id = setInterval(load, 10000);
+    return () => clearInterval(id);
+  }, [load]);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!open) return;
+    const handler = (e: MouseEvent) => {
+      if (containerRef.current && !containerRef.current.contains(e.target as Node)) {
+        setOpen(false);
+      }
+    };
+    document.addEventListener('mousedown', handler);
+    return () => document.removeEventListener('mousedown', handler);
+  }, [open]);
+
+  const handleApprove = async (id: string) => {
+    setProcessing(p => ({ ...p, [id]: true }));
+    try {
+      await approveAction(id);
+      setApprovals(prev => prev.filter(a => a.id !== id));
+    } finally {
+      setProcessing(p => ({ ...p, [id]: false }));
+    }
+  };
+
+  const handleDeny = async (id: string) => {
+    setProcessing(p => ({ ...p, [id]: true }));
+    try {
+      await denyAction(id);
+      setApprovals(prev => prev.filter(a => a.id !== id));
+    } finally {
+      setProcessing(p => ({ ...p, [id]: false }));
+    }
+  };
+
+  const count = approvals.length;
+
+  return (
+    <div ref={containerRef} className="fixed top-2 right-3 z-40">
+      {/* Bell trigger */}
+      <button
+        onClick={() => setOpen(o => !o)}
+        className="relative p-2 rounded-lg transition-colors cursor-pointer"
+        title="Agent approvals"
+        style={{
+          color: count > 0 ? 'var(--color-text)' : 'var(--color-text-secondary)',
+          background: open
+            ? 'var(--color-bg-tertiary)'
+            : count > 0
+            ? 'color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-error) 8%, transparent)'
+            : 'transparent',
+        }}
+      >
+        <Bell size={17} />
+        {count > 0 && (
+          <span
+            className="absolute -top-0.5 -right-0.5 min-w-[16px] h-4 flex items-center justify-center rounded-full text-[10px] font-bold px-1 leading-none"
+            style={{ background: 'var(--color-error)', color: '#fff' }}
+          >
+            {count > 99 ? '99+' : count}
+          </span>
+        )}
+      </button>
+
+      {/* Dropdown */}
+      {open && (
+        <div
+          className="absolute right-0 top-full mt-1 rounded-xl shadow-2xl overflow-hidden flex flex-col"
+          style={{
+            width: '340px',
+            maxHeight: '500px',
+            background: 'var(--color-bg-secondary)',
+            border: '1px solid var(--color-border)',
+          }}
+        >
+          {/* Header */}
+          <div
+            className="flex items-center justify-between px-4 py-3 shrink-0"
+            style={{ borderBottom: '1px solid var(--color-border)' }}
+          >
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+              <Bell size={13} style={{ color: 'var(--color-accent)' }} />
+              <span className="text-sm font-semibold" style={{ color: 'var(--color-text)' }}>
+                Agent Approvals
+              </span>
+            </div>
+            {count > 0 && (
+              <span
+                className="text-[11px] font-medium px-2 py-0.5 rounded-full"
+                style={{
+                  background: 'color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-error) 12%, transparent)',
+                  color: 'var(--color-error)',
+                }}
+              >
+                {count} pending
+              </span>
+            )}
+          </div>
+
+          {/* Body */}
+          <div className="overflow-y-auto flex-1">
+            {count === 0 ? (
+              <div className="flex flex-col items-center justify-center py-12 gap-2">
+                <CheckCircle size={26} style={{ color: 'var(--color-text-secondary)', opacity: 0.35 }} />
+                <span className="text-sm" style={{ color: 'var(--color-text-secondary)' }}>
+                  No pending approvals
+                </span>
+              </div>
+            ) : (
+              approvals.map((action, idx) => {
+                const tier = TIER_STYLES[action.tier] ?? TIER_STYLES.medium;
+                const isExpanded = !!expanded[action.id];
+                const isLoading = !!processing[action.id];
+                const hasPayload = Object.keys(action.payload ?? {}).length > 0;
+
+                return (
+                  <div
+                    key={action.id}
+                    className="px-4 py-3"
+                    style={{
+                      borderBottom: idx < count - 1 ? '1px solid var(--color-border)' : 'none',
+                    }}
+                  >
+                    {/* Row 1: action type + tier + time */}
+                    <div className="flex items-center justify-between mb-1.5">
+                      <span
+                        className="text-[11px] font-mono font-semibold"
+                        style={{ color: 'var(--color-accent)' }}
+                      >
+                        {action.action_type}
+                      </span>
+                      <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+                        <span
+                          className="text-[10px] font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded"
+                          style={{ background: tier.bg, color: tier.color }}
+                        >
+                          {tier.label}
+                        </span>
+                        <span
+                          className="text-[10px] flex items-center gap-0.5"
+                          style={{ color: 'var(--color-text-secondary)' }}
+                        >
+                          <Clock size={9} />
+                          {timeAgo(action.created_at)}
+                        </span>
+                      </div>
+                    </div>
+
+                    {/* Description */}
+                    <p
+                      className="text-[13px] mb-2.5 leading-snug"
+                      style={{ color: 'var(--color-text)' }}
+                    >
+                      {action.description}
+                    </p>
+
+                    {/* Expandable payload */}
+                    {hasPayload && (
+                      <button
+                        className="flex items-center gap-1 text-[11px] mb-2 cursor-pointer"
+                        style={{ color: 'var(--color-text-secondary)' }}
+                        onClick={() =>
+                          setExpanded(e => ({ ...e, [action.id]: !e[action.id] }))
+                        }
+                      >
+                        {isExpanded ? <ChevronUp size={11} /> : <ChevronDown size={11} />}
+                        {isExpanded ? 'Hide details' : 'View details'}
+                      </button>
+                    )}
+
+                    {isExpanded && (
+                      <pre
+                        className="text-[10px] rounded-lg p-2.5 mb-2.5 overflow-x-auto"
+                        style={{
+                          background: 'var(--color-bg-tertiary)',
+                          color: 'var(--color-text-secondary)',
+                          fontFamily: 'monospace',
+                          whiteSpace: 'pre-wrap',
+                          wordBreak: 'break-all',
+                          lineHeight: '1.5',
+                        }}
+                      >
+                        {JSON.stringify(action.payload, null, 2)}
+                      </pre>
+                    )}
+
+                    {/* Approve / Deny */}
+                    <div className="flex gap-2">
+                      <button
+                        onClick={() => handleApprove(action.id)}
+                        disabled={isLoading}
+                        className="flex-1 flex items-center justify-center gap-1.5 py-1.5 rounded-lg text-xs font-semibold transition-opacity cursor-pointer disabled:opacity-40"
+                        style={{
+                          background: 'color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-success) 12%, transparent)',
+                          color: 'var(--color-success)',
+                          border: '1px solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-success) 22%, transparent)',
+                        }}
+                      >
+                        <CheckCircle size={12} />
+                        Approve
+                      </button>
+                      <button
+                        onClick={() => handleDeny(action.id)}
+                        disabled={isLoading}
+                        className="flex-1 flex items-center justify-center gap-1.5 py-1.5 rounded-lg text-xs font-semibold transition-opacity cursor-pointer disabled:opacity-40"
+                        style={{
+                          background: 'color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-error) 12%, transparent)',
+                          color: 'var(--color-error)',
+                          border: '1px solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-error) 22%, transparent)',
+                        }}
+                      >
+                        <XCircle size={12} />
+                        Deny
+                      </button>
+                    </div>
+                  </div>
+                );
+              })
+            )}
+          </div>
+        </div>
+      )}
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Layout.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Layout.tsx
index eaddd1ca..073af286 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Layout.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Layout.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
 import { Outlet, useNavigate } from 'react-router';
+import { ApprovalBell } from './ApprovalBell';
 import { Sidebar } from './Sidebar/Sidebar';
 import { SystemPulse } from './SystemPulse';
 import { useAppStore } from '../lib/store';
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@ export function Layout() {
     <div className="flex flex-col h-full w-full overflow-hidden relative" style={{ paddingTop: '3px' }}>
       <div className="hud-backdrop" aria-hidden="true" />
       <SystemPulse apiReachable={apiReachable} />
+      <ApprovalBell />
 
       {/* Health check banner */}
       {apiReachable === false && (
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/api.ts b/frontend/src/lib/api.ts
index b62d71b2..33f48446 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/api.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/api.ts
@@ -931,3 +931,36 @@ export async function getMemoryConfig(): Promise<MemoryConfig> {
   if (!res.ok) throw new Error('Failed to fetch memory config');
   return res.json();
 }
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Approvals
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+export interface PendingApproval {
+  id: string;
+  action_type: string;
+  description: string;
+  payload: Record<string, unknown>;
+  permission_key: string;
+  tier: 'trivial' | 'low' | 'medium' | 'high';
+  status: string;
+  created_at: string;
+  expires_at: string;
+}
+
+export async function fetchPendingApprovals(): Promise<PendingApproval[]> {
+  const res = await fetch(`${getBase()}/v1/approvals/pending`);
+  if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Failed: ${res.status}`);
+  const data = await res.json();
+  return data.actions || [];
+}
+
+export async function approveAction(actionId: string): Promise<void> {
+  const res = await fetch(`${getBase()}/v1/approvals/${actionId}/approve`, { method: 'POST' });
+  if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Failed: ${res.status}`);
+}
+
+export async function denyAction(actionId: string): Promise<void> {
+  const res = await fetch(`${getBase()}/v1/approvals/${actionId}/deny`, { method: 'POST' });
+  if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Failed: ${res.status}`);
+}
diff --git a/src/openjarvis/server/api_routes.py b/src/openjarvis/server/api_routes.py
index 7064af1b..956de624 100644
--- a/src/openjarvis/server/api_routes.py
+++ b/src/openjarvis/server/api_routes.py
@@ -883,6 +883,11 @@ async def start_optimize_run(req: OptimizeRunRequest, request: Request):
 
 def include_all_routes(app) -> None:
     """Include all extended API routers in a FastAPI app."""
+    from openjarvis.server.approval_routes import (
+        router as approval_router,  # noqa: PLC0415
+    )
+
+    app.include_router(approval_router)
     app.include_router(agents_router)
     app.include_router(memory_router)
     app.include_router(traces_router)
diff --git a/src/openjarvis/server/approval_routes.py b/src/openjarvis/server/approval_routes.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..076874d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/openjarvis/server/approval_routes.py
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+"""REST endpoints for the proactive-agent approval queue."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import logging
+from typing import Any, Dict, Optional
+
+from openjarvis.tools.approval_store import (
+    STATUS_APPROVED,
+    STATUS_DENIED,
+    ApprovalStore,
+    PendingAction,
+)
+
+try:
+    from fastapi import APIRouter, HTTPException
+except ImportError:
+    raise ImportError("fastapi is required for approval routes")
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+router = APIRouter()
+
+# Singleton that shares the same DB file as ProactiveAgent (WAL mode is safe)
+_store: Optional[ApprovalStore] = None
+
+
+def _get_store() -> ApprovalStore:
+    global _store
+    if _store is None:
+        _store = ApprovalStore()
+    return _store
+
+
+def _serialize(action: PendingAction) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    return {
+        "id": action.id,
+        "action_type": action.action_type,
+        "description": action.description,
+        "payload": action.payload,
+        "permission_key": action.permission_key,
+        "tier": action.tier,
+        "status": action.status,
+        "created_at": action.created_at,
+        "expires_at": action.expires_at,
+    }
+
+
+@router.get("/v1/approvals/pending")
+async def list_pending_approvals() -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    store = _get_store()
+    store.expire_stale()
+    actions = store.list_pending()
+    return {"actions": [_serialize(a) for a in actions], "count": len(actions)}
+
+
+@router.post("/v1/approvals/{action_id}/approve")
+async def approve_action(action_id: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    store = _get_store()
+    action = store.get_action(action_id)
+    if action is None:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Action not found")
+    store.update_status(action_id, STATUS_APPROVED)
+    logger.info("Action %s approved via UI", action_id)
+    return {"status": "approved", "id": action_id}
+
+
+@router.post("/v1/approvals/{action_id}/deny")
+async def deny_action(action_id: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    store = _get_store()
+    action = store.get_action(action_id)
+    if action is None:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Action not found")
+    store.update_status(action_id, STATUS_DENIED)
+    logger.info("Action %s denied via UI", action_id)
+    return {"status": "denied", "id": action_id}
+
+
+__all__ = ["router"]
diff --git a/tests/server/test_approval_routes.py b/tests/server/test_approval_routes.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e6d69f4d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/server/test_approval_routes.py
@@ -0,0 +1,357 @@
+"""Tests for the proactive-agent approval queue API routes."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import pytest
+
+from openjarvis.tools.approval_store import (
+    STATUS_APPROVED,
+    STATUS_DENIED,
+    STATUS_PENDING,
+    TIER_HIGH,
+    TIER_LOW,
+    TIER_MEDIUM,
+    ApprovalStore,
+)
+
+try:
+    from fastapi import FastAPI
+    from fastapi.testclient import TestClient
+
+    HAS_FASTAPI = True
+except ImportError:
+    HAS_FASTAPI = False
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Fixtures
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def approval_store(tmp_path):
+    """A fresh ApprovalStore backed by a temp DB, injected into the routes module."""
+    import openjarvis.server.approval_routes as ar
+
+    store = ApprovalStore(db_path=str(tmp_path / "approvals.db"))
+    original = ar._store
+    ar._store = store
+    yield store
+    ar._store = original
+    store.close()
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def client(approval_store):  # noqa: ARG001 — triggers store injection as a side-effect
+    """TestClient with the approval router mounted on a minimal FastAPI app."""
+    from openjarvis.server.approval_routes import router
+
+    app = FastAPI()
+    app.include_router(router)
+    return TestClient(app)
+
+
+def _queue(store: ApprovalStore, **kwargs) -> str:
+    """Helper — queue an action and return its id."""
+    defaults = dict(
+        action_type="file_write",
+        description="Write a report to ~/Desktop/report.txt",
+        payload={"path": "~/Desktop/report.txt", "size_kb": 12},
+        permission_key="file_write:path:~/Desktop",
+        tier=TIER_MEDIUM,
+    )
+    defaults.update(kwargs)
+    action = store.queue_action(**defaults)
+    return action.id
+
+
+def _expire(store: ApprovalStore, action_id: str) -> None:
+    """Force an action's expires_at into the past so list_pending skips it."""
+    store._conn.execute(
+        "UPDATE pending_actions SET expires_at = ? WHERE id = ?",
+        ("2000-01-01T00:00:00+00:00", action_id),
+    )
+    store._conn.commit()
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Tests
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+@pytest.mark.skipif(not HAS_FASTAPI, reason="fastapi not installed")
+class TestListPendingApprovals:
+    def test_empty_queue(self, client):
+        resp = client.get("/v1/approvals/pending")
+        assert resp.status_code == 200
+        body = resp.json()
+        assert body["actions"] == []
+        assert body["count"] == 0
+
+    def test_returns_queued_items(self, client, approval_store):
+        _queue(approval_store)
+        resp = client.get("/v1/approvals/pending")
+        assert resp.status_code == 200
+        body = resp.json()
+        assert body["count"] == 1
+        assert len(body["actions"]) == 1
+
+    def test_returns_multiple_items(self, client, approval_store):
+        _queue(approval_store, action_type="email_send", description="Send digest")
+        _queue(approval_store, action_type="file_delete", description="Delete temps")
+        resp = client.get("/v1/approvals/pending")
+        assert resp.json()["count"] == 2
+
+    def test_response_shape(self, client, approval_store):
+        _queue(
+            approval_store,
+            action_type="sms_send",
+            description="Reply to Alice",
+            payload={"to": "+15550001234", "body": "On my way"},
+            tier=TIER_HIGH,
+        )
+        resp = client.get("/v1/approvals/pending")
+        action = resp.json()["actions"][0]
+
+        required_fields = {
+            "id",
+            "action_type",
+            "description",
+            "payload",
+            "permission_key",
+            "tier",
+            "status",
+            "created_at",
+            "expires_at",
+        }
+        assert required_fields.issubset(action.keys()), (
+            f"Missing fields: {required_fields - action.keys()}"
+        )
+
+    def test_payload_is_dict_not_string(self, client, approval_store):
+        """The route must deserialize payload — not return the raw JSON string."""
+        _queue(approval_store, payload={"key": "value", "nested": {"x": 1}})
+        action = client.get("/v1/approvals/pending").json()["actions"][0]
+        assert isinstance(action["payload"], dict), (
+            f"Expected dict, got {type(action['payload'])}"
+        )
+        assert action["payload"]["key"] == "value"
+
+    def test_correct_field_values(self, client, approval_store):
+        _queue(
+            approval_store,
+            action_type="calendar_create",
+            description="Create meeting event",
+            tier=TIER_LOW,
+        )
+        action = client.get("/v1/approvals/pending").json()["actions"][0]
+        assert action["action_type"] == "calendar_create"
+        assert action["description"] == "Create meeting event"
+        assert action["tier"] == TIER_LOW
+        assert action["status"] == STATUS_PENDING
+
+    def test_does_not_return_approved_actions(self, client, approval_store):
+        action_id = _queue(approval_store)
+        approval_store.update_status(action_id, STATUS_APPROVED)
+        resp = client.get("/v1/approvals/pending")
+        assert resp.json()["count"] == 0
+
+    def test_does_not_return_denied_actions(self, client, approval_store):
+        action_id = _queue(approval_store)
+        approval_store.update_status(action_id, STATUS_DENIED)
+        resp = client.get("/v1/approvals/pending")
+        assert resp.json()["count"] == 0
+
+    def test_auto_expires_stale_actions(self, client, approval_store):
+        """GET /pending must expire past-TTL items and exclude them."""
+        action_id = _queue(approval_store)
+        _expire(approval_store, action_id)
+        resp = client.get("/v1/approvals/pending")
+        assert resp.json()["count"] == 0
+
+    def test_stale_expired_mixes_with_live(self, client, approval_store):
+        """Only expired items are excluded; live items still appear."""
+        stale_id = _queue(approval_store, description="Stale action")
+        _queue(approval_store, description="Live action")
+        _expire(approval_store, stale_id)
+        resp = client.get("/v1/approvals/pending")
+        body = resp.json()
+        assert body["count"] == 1
+        assert body["actions"][0]["description"] == "Live action"
+
+    def test_timestamps_are_strings(self, client, approval_store):
+        _queue(approval_store)
+        action = client.get("/v1/approvals/pending").json()["actions"][0]
+        assert isinstance(action["created_at"], str)
+        assert isinstance(action["expires_at"], str)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.skipif(not HAS_FASTAPI, reason="fastapi not installed")
+class TestApproveAction:
+    def test_approve_returns_200(self, client, approval_store):
+        action_id = _queue(approval_store)
+        resp = client.post(f"/v1/approvals/{action_id}/approve")
+        assert resp.status_code == 200
+
+    def test_approve_response_body(self, client, approval_store):
+        action_id = _queue(approval_store)
+        body = client.post(f"/v1/approvals/{action_id}/approve").json()
+        assert body["status"] == "approved"
+        assert body["id"] == action_id
+
+    def test_approve_updates_db_status(self, client, approval_store):
+        action_id = _queue(approval_store)
+        client.post(f"/v1/approvals/{action_id}/approve")
+        action = approval_store.get_action(action_id)
+        assert action is not None
+        assert action.status == STATUS_APPROVED
+
+    def test_approve_removes_from_pending_list(self, client, approval_store):
+        action_id = _queue(approval_store)
+        client.post(f"/v1/approvals/{action_id}/approve")
+        resp = client.get("/v1/approvals/pending")
+        ids = [a["id"] for a in resp.json()["actions"]]
+        assert action_id not in ids
+
+    def test_approve_nonexistent_returns_404(self, client):
+        resp = client.post("/v1/approvals/doesnotexist/approve")
+        assert resp.status_code == 404
+
+    def test_approve_only_removes_target(self, client, approval_store):
+        """Approving one action must leave others untouched."""
+        id_a = _queue(approval_store, description="Action A")
+        id_b = _queue(approval_store, description="Action B")
+        client.post(f"/v1/approvals/{id_a}/approve")
+        resp = client.get("/v1/approvals/pending")
+        body = resp.json()
+        assert body["count"] == 1
+        assert body["actions"][0]["id"] == id_b
+
+
+@pytest.mark.skipif(not HAS_FASTAPI, reason="fastapi not installed")
+class TestDenyAction:
+    def test_deny_returns_200(self, client, approval_store):
+        action_id = _queue(approval_store)
+        resp = client.post(f"/v1/approvals/{action_id}/deny")
+        assert resp.status_code == 200
+
+    def test_deny_response_body(self, client, approval_store):
+        action_id = _queue(approval_store)
+        body = client.post(f"/v1/approvals/{action_id}/deny").json()
+        assert body["status"] == "denied"
+        assert body["id"] == action_id
+
+    def test_deny_updates_db_status(self, client, approval_store):
+        action_id = _queue(approval_store)
+        client.post(f"/v1/approvals/{action_id}/deny")
+        action = approval_store.get_action(action_id)
+        assert action is not None
+        assert action.status == STATUS_DENIED
+
+    def test_deny_removes_from_pending_list(self, client, approval_store):
+        action_id = _queue(approval_store)
+        client.post(f"/v1/approvals/{action_id}/deny")
+        resp = client.get("/v1/approvals/pending")
+        ids = [a["id"] for a in resp.json()["actions"]]
+        assert action_id not in ids
+
+    def test_deny_nonexistent_returns_404(self, client):
+        resp = client.post("/v1/approvals/doesnotexist/deny")
+        assert resp.status_code == 404
+
+    def test_deny_only_removes_target(self, client, approval_store):
+        id_a = _queue(approval_store, description="Action A")
+        id_b = _queue(approval_store, description="Action B")
+        client.post(f"/v1/approvals/{id_a}/deny")
+        resp = client.get("/v1/approvals/pending")
+        body = resp.json()
+        assert body["count"] == 1
+        assert body["actions"][0]["id"] == id_b
+
+
+@pytest.mark.skipif(not HAS_FASTAPI, reason="fastapi not installed")
+class TestApprovalStoreIntegration:
+    """End-to-end scenarios: queue → inspect → decide."""
+
+    def test_full_approve_flow(self, client, approval_store):
+        """Queue an action, verify it appears, approve it, verify it's gone."""
+        action_id = _queue(
+            approval_store,
+            action_type="email_delete",
+            description="Delete promotional email from newsletters@company.com",
+            payload={"message_id": "abc123", "subject": "Weekly promo"},
+            tier=TIER_HIGH,
+        )
+
+        # Should appear in pending
+        pending = client.get("/v1/approvals/pending").json()
+        assert pending["count"] == 1
+        assert pending["actions"][0]["id"] == action_id
+
+        # Approve it
+        resp = client.post(f"/v1/approvals/{action_id}/approve")
+        assert resp.status_code == 200
+
+        # Should be gone from pending
+        assert client.get("/v1/approvals/pending").json()["count"] == 0
+
+        # Status in DB should be approved
+        assert approval_store.get_action(action_id).status == STATUS_APPROVED
+
+    def test_full_deny_flow(self, client, approval_store):
+        action_id = _queue(
+            approval_store,
+            action_type="file_delete",
+            description="Delete ~/Documents/report.pdf",
+            tier=TIER_HIGH,
+        )
+
+        assert client.get("/v1/approvals/pending").json()["count"] == 1
+
+        resp = client.post(f"/v1/approvals/{action_id}/deny")
+        assert resp.status_code == 200
+
+        assert client.get("/v1/approvals/pending").json()["count"] == 0
+        assert approval_store.get_action(action_id).status == STATUS_DENIED
+
+    def test_mixed_queue_approve_one_deny_one(self, client, approval_store):
+        id_a = _queue(approval_store, description="Send email")
+        id_b = _queue(approval_store, description="Delete file")
+        id_c = _queue(approval_store, description="Create calendar event")
+
+        assert client.get("/v1/approvals/pending").json()["count"] == 3
+
+        client.post(f"/v1/approvals/{id_a}/approve")
+        client.post(f"/v1/approvals/{id_b}/deny")
+
+        pending = client.get("/v1/approvals/pending").json()
+        assert pending["count"] == 1
+        assert pending["actions"][0]["id"] == id_c
+
+        assert approval_store.get_action(id_a).status == STATUS_APPROVED
+        assert approval_store.get_action(id_b).status == STATUS_DENIED
+        assert approval_store.get_action(id_c).status == STATUS_PENDING
+
+    def test_empty_payload_handled(self, client, approval_store):
+        """Actions with empty payloads should serialize cleanly."""
+        _queue(approval_store, payload={})
+        action = client.get("/v1/approvals/pending").json()["actions"][0]
+        assert isinstance(action["payload"], dict)
+        assert action["payload"] == {}
+
+    def test_nested_payload_preserved(self, client, approval_store):
+        payload = {
+            "email": {"to": "user@example.com", "subject": "Hello"},
+            "metadata": {"priority": 1, "tags": ["newsletter", "promo"]},
+        }
+        _queue(approval_store, payload=payload)
+        action = client.get("/v1/approvals/pending").json()["actions"][0]
+        assert action["payload"]["email"]["to"] == "user@example.com"
+        assert action["payload"]["metadata"]["tags"] == ["newsletter", "promo"]
+
+    def test_all_tiers_accepted(self, client, approval_store):
+        for tier in ["trivial", "low", "medium", "high"]:
+            _queue(approval_store, tier=tier, description=f"{tier} action")
+        resp = client.get("/v1/approvals/pending")
+        tiers = {a["tier"] for a in resp.json()["actions"]}
+        assert tiers == {"trivial", "low", "medium", "high"}