diff --git a/config.json b/config.json
index dc9d7f1..e2c897c 100644
--- a/config.json
+++ b/config.json
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
   "max_url_length": 131072,
   "max_retention_days": 3650,
   "rate_limit_requests": 10,
-  "rate_limit_window": 60
+  "rate_limit_window": 60,
+  "production": true
 }
 
diff --git a/urlshort.py b/urlshort.py
index 2f5f8d0..033aa11 100644
--- a/urlshort.py
+++ b/urlshort.py
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ def load_config(path: str) -> dict:
     cfg.setdefault("max_retention_days", 3650)
     cfg.setdefault("rate_limit_requests", 60)
     cfg.setdefault("rate_limit_window", 60)
+    cfg.setdefault("production", False)
 
     # Derive base_path from the path component of base_url.
     raw = urlparse(cfg["base_url"]).path.strip("/")
@@ -346,9 +347,9 @@ class Handler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
             return
 
         if path == "/":
-            # Serve frontend if static/index.html exists, else health check
+            # In production, nginx serves static files; backend only serves health check.
             index_path = os.path.join(STATIC_DIR, "index.html")
-            if os.path.isfile(index_path):
+            if not self.cfg.get("production") and os.path.isfile(index_path):
                 self._serve_static("index.html")
             else:
                 self._send_json(200, {"status": "ok", "service": "url-shortener"})
@@ -367,6 +368,9 @@ class Handler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
             self._handle_lookup()
 
         elif path == "/static" or path.startswith("/static/"):
+            if self.cfg.get("production"):
+                self._send_empty(404)
+                return
             rel = path[len("/static"):].lstrip("/") or "index.html"
             self._serve_static(rel)
 
@@ -689,6 +693,7 @@ def main() -> None:
     log.info("Short codes    : %s–%s chars", cfg["min_short_length"], cfg["max_short_length"])
     log.info("Retention days : %s", cfg["retention_days"])
     log.info("Rate limit     : %s req/%ss per IP", cfg["rate_limit_requests"], cfg["rate_limit_window"])
+    log.info("Production     : %s", cfg["production"])
 
     try:
         server.serve_forever()