diff --git a/BUILD b/BUILD
index 3a0651a4..505d2498 100644
--- a/BUILD
+++ b/BUILD
@@ -1,8 +1,16 @@
+load("@rules_license//rules:license.bzl", "license")
 load("//:bzl_library.bzl", "bzl_library")
 
-licenses(["notice"])
+package(
+    default_applicable_licenses = ["//:license"],
+    default_visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
+)
 
-package(default_visibility = ["//visibility:public"])
+license(
+    name = "license",
+    package_name = "bazelbuild/bazel_skylib",
+    license_kinds = ["@rules_license//licenses/spdx:Apache-2.0"],
+)
 
 # buildifier: disable=skylark-comment
 # gazelle:exclude skylark_library.bzl
diff --git a/MODULE.bazel b/MODULE.bazel
index 289ac321..13cd955f 100644
--- a/MODULE.bazel
+++ b/MODULE.bazel
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ register_toolchains(
 )
 
 bazel_dep(name = "platforms", version = "0.0.4")
+bazel_dep(name = "rules_license", version = "0.0.7")
 
 ### INTERNAL ONLY - lines after this are not included in the release packaging.
 
diff --git a/distribution/BUILD b/distribution/BUILD
index 4465779a..92f121b6 100644
--- a/distribution/BUILD
+++ b/distribution/BUILD
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ load("@rules_pkg//:pkg.bzl", "pkg_tar")
 load("distribution.bzl", "remove_internal_only")
 
 package(
+    default_applicable_licenses = ["//:license"],
     default_visibility = ["//visibility:private"],
 )
 
diff --git a/docs/BUILD b/docs/BUILD
index b25bcce2..7cef661b 100644
--- a/docs/BUILD
+++ b/docs/BUILD
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 load("//docs/private:stardoc_with_diff_test.bzl", "stardoc_with_diff_test", "update_docs")
 
-licenses(["notice"])
+package(default_applicable_licenses = ["//:license"])
 
 stardoc_with_diff_test(
     name = "analysis_test",
diff --git a/docs/private/BUILD b/docs/private/BUILD
index f8c832b6..20645162 100644
--- a/docs/private/BUILD
+++ b/docs/private/BUILD
@@ -1 +1,3 @@
-# No targets in this package
+# This package only contains source targets
+
+package(default_applicable_licenses = ["//:license"])
diff --git a/gazelle/BUILD b/gazelle/BUILD
index d1c6daae..2e5f191f 100644
--- a/gazelle/BUILD
+++ b/gazelle/BUILD
@@ -1,4 +1,13 @@
 load("@bazel_skylib//:bzl_library.bzl", "bzl_library")
+load("@rules_license//rules:license.bzl", "license")
+
+package(default_applicable_licenses = ["@bazel_skylib//:license"])
+
+license(
+    name = "license",
+    package_name = "bazelbuild/bazel_skylib_gazelle_module",
+    license_kinds = ["@rules_license//licenses/spdx:Apache-2.0"],
+)
 
 exports_files(["WORKSPACE.bzlmod"])
 
diff --git a/gazelle/MODULE.bazel b/gazelle/MODULE.bazel
index 3c9c243e..6b814056 100644
--- a/gazelle/MODULE.bazel
+++ b/gazelle/MODULE.bazel
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@ module(
 )
 
 # Keep in sync with @bazel_skylib//:MODULE.bazel and @bazel_skylib//:version.bzl
-bazel_dep(name = "bazel_skylib", version = "1.4.2")
+bazel_dep(name = "bazel_skylib", version = "1.6.1")
+bazel_dep(name = "rules_license", version = "0.0.7")
 bazel_dep(name = "gazelle", version = "0.29.0", repo_name = "bazel_gazelle")
 bazel_dep(name = "rules_go", version = "0.41.0", repo_name = "io_bazel_rules_go")
 
diff --git a/gazelle/bzl/BUILD b/gazelle/bzl/BUILD
index 0b8e6d35..c32236ea 100644
--- a/gazelle/bzl/BUILD
+++ b/gazelle/bzl/BUILD
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 load("@bazel_gazelle//:def.bzl", "gazelle", "gazelle_binary")
 load("@io_bazel_rules_go//go:def.bzl", "go_library", "go_test")
 
+package(default_applicable_licenses = ["//:license"])
+
 # gazelle:exclude testdata
 
 go_library(
diff --git a/gazelle/workspace.bzl b/gazelle/workspace.bzl
index 0eca993f..4f18eb5c 100644
--- a/gazelle/workspace.bzl
+++ b/gazelle/workspace.bzl
@@ -22,6 +22,16 @@ def bazel_skylib_gazelle_plugin_workspace():
     """Loads dependencies required to use skylib's gazelle plugin"""
     bazel_skylib_workspace()
 
+    maybe(
+        http_archive,
+        name = "rules_license",
+        sha256 = "4531deccb913639c30e5c7512a054d5d875698daeb75d8cf90f284375fe7c360",
+        urls = [
+            "https://mirror.bazel.build/github.com/bazelbuild/rules_license/releases/download/0.0.7/rules_license-0.0.7.tar.gz",
+            "https://github.com/bazelbuild/rules_license/releases/download/0.0.7/rules_license-0.0.7.tar.gz",
+        ],
+    )
+
     maybe(
         http_archive,
         name = "io_bazel_rules_go",
diff --git a/lib/BUILD b/lib/BUILD
index 08a7173d..08c00a8e 100644
--- a/lib/BUILD
+++ b/lib/BUILD
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 load("//:bzl_library.bzl", "bzl_library")
 
-licenses(["notice"])
-
-package(default_visibility = ["//visibility:public"])
+package(
+    default_applicable_licenses = ["//:license"],
+    default_visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
+)
 
 # export bzl files for the documentation
 exports_files(
diff --git a/rules/BUILD b/rules/BUILD
index 3a06554c..6de7b2c6 100644
--- a/rules/BUILD
+++ b/rules/BUILD
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 load("//:bzl_library.bzl", "bzl_library")
 
-licenses(["notice"])
-
-package(default_visibility = ["//visibility:public"])
+package(
+    default_applicable_licenses = ["//:license"],
+    default_visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
+)
 
 bzl_library(
     name = "analysis_test",
diff --git a/rules/private/BUILD b/rules/private/BUILD
index 7bd36520..429e6cb5 100644
--- a/rules/private/BUILD
+++ b/rules/private/BUILD
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 load("//:bzl_library.bzl", "bzl_library")
 
-licenses(["notice"])
+package(default_applicable_licenses = ["//:license"])
 
 bzl_library(
     name = "copy_common",
diff --git a/tests/BUILD b/tests/BUILD
index 9cfe7d6d..f0b2a1fb 100644
--- a/tests/BUILD
+++ b/tests/BUILD
@@ -15,7 +15,10 @@ load(":types_tests.bzl", "types_test_suite")
 load(":unittest_tests.bzl", "unittest_passing_tests_suite")
 load(":versions_tests.bzl", "versions_test_suite")
 
-licenses(["notice"])
+package(
+    default_applicable_licenses = ["//:license"],
+    default_testonly = 1,
+)
 
 exports_files(
     ["unittest.bash"],
diff --git a/tests/bzl_library/BUILD b/tests/bzl_library/BUILD
index 72a4b9cd..e6a8cdac 100644
--- a/tests/bzl_library/BUILD
+++ b/tests/bzl_library/BUILD
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 load("//:bzl_library.bzl", "bzl_library")
 load(":bzl_library_test.bzl", "bzl_library_test")
 
+package(
+    default_applicable_licenses = ["//:license"],
+    default_testonly = 1,
+)
+
 filegroup(
     name = "a",
     srcs = ["testdata/a.bzl"],
diff --git a/tests/common_settings/BUILD b/tests/common_settings/BUILD
index 606a4f64..f21ba507 100644
--- a/tests/common_settings/BUILD
+++ b/tests/common_settings/BUILD
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 load("//rules:common_settings.bzl", "int_flag", "string_flag")
 
-licenses(["notice"])
-
-package(default_testonly = 1)
+package(
+    default_applicable_licenses = ["//:license"],
+    default_testonly = 1,
+)
 
 int_flag(
     name = "my_int_flag",
diff --git a/tests/copy_directory/BUILD.bazel b/tests/copy_directory/BUILD.bazel
index f766e99f..c706561c 100644
--- a/tests/copy_directory/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/tests/copy_directory/BUILD.bazel
@@ -3,9 +3,10 @@
 load("//rules:copy_directory.bzl", "copy_directory")
 load(":empty_directory.bzl", "empty_directory")
 
-licenses(["notice"])
-
-package(default_testonly = 1)
+package(
+    default_applicable_licenses = ["//:license"],
+    default_testonly = 1,
+)
 
 # Copy of directory containing files a and b, and a subdir containing c
 copy_directory(
diff --git a/tests/copy_file/BUILD b/tests/copy_file/BUILD
index 2e6914ce..f9cb94c4 100644
--- a/tests/copy_file/BUILD
+++ b/tests/copy_file/BUILD
@@ -33,9 +33,10 @@
 
 load("//rules:copy_file.bzl", "copy_file")
 
-licenses(["notice"])
-
-package(default_testonly = 1)
+package(
+    default_applicable_licenses = ["//:license"],
+    default_testonly = 1,
+)
 
 sh_test(
     name = "copy_file_tests",
diff --git a/tests/diff_test/BUILD b/tests/diff_test/BUILD
index aa381d85..475f156c 100644
--- a/tests/diff_test/BUILD
+++ b/tests/diff_test/BUILD
@@ -2,9 +2,10 @@
 
 load("//rules:diff_test.bzl", "diff_test")
 
-licenses(["notice"])
-
-package(default_testonly = 1)
+package(
+    default_applicable_licenses = ["//:license"],
+    default_testonly = 1,
+)
 
 sh_test(
     name = "diff_test_tests",
diff --git a/tests/expand_template/BUILD b/tests/expand_template/BUILD
index 06071115..07fc5797 100644
--- a/tests/expand_template/BUILD
+++ b/tests/expand_template/BUILD
@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@
 
 load("//rules:expand_template.bzl", "expand_template")
 
+package(
+    default_applicable_licenses = ["//:license"],
+    default_testonly = 1,
+)
+
 expand_template(
     name = "filled_template",
     out = "foo/test.yaml",
diff --git a/tests/native_binary/BUILD b/tests/native_binary/BUILD
index ad32cba9..5ec2d54a 100644
--- a/tests/native_binary/BUILD
+++ b/tests/native_binary/BUILD
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ load("//rules:copy_file.bzl", "copy_file")
 load("//rules:native_binary.bzl", "native_binary", "native_test")
 
 package(
+    default_applicable_licenses = ["//:license"],
     default_testonly = 1,
     default_visibility = ["//visibility:private"],
 )
diff --git a/tests/run_binary/BUILD b/tests/run_binary/BUILD
index 18682f6b..0d5b5acf 100644
--- a/tests/run_binary/BUILD
+++ b/tests/run_binary/BUILD
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ load("//rules:run_binary.bzl", "run_binary")
 load("//rules:write_file.bzl", "write_file")
 
 package(
+    default_applicable_licenses = ["//:license"],
     default_testonly = 1,
     default_visibility = ["//visibility:private"],
 )
diff --git a/tests/select_file/BUILD b/tests/select_file/BUILD
index a91c2310..6f1e8f7e 100644
--- a/tests/select_file/BUILD
+++ b/tests/select_file/BUILD
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 load("//rules:diff_test.bzl", "diff_test")
 load("//rules:select_file.bzl", "select_file")
 
-licenses(["notice"])
+package(
+    default_applicable_licenses = ["//:license"],
+    default_testonly = 1,
+)
 
 filegroup(
     name = "fg",
diff --git a/tests/unittest_test.sh b/tests/unittest_test.sh
index c773d70d..271f1563 100755
--- a/tests/unittest_test.sh
+++ b/tests/unittest_test.sh
@@ -79,7 +79,10 @@ EOF
   ln -sf "$(rlocation $TEST_WORKSPACE/lib/unittest.bzl)" lib/unittest.bzl
 
   mkdir -p toolchains/unittest
-  ln -sf "$(rlocation $TEST_WORKSPACE/toolchains/unittest/BUILD)" toolchains/unittest/BUILD
+  # Remove `package(default_applicable_license = ...)` line to avoid depending on rules_license inside this test
+  sed -e '/package(default_applicable_licenses = .*)/d' \
+    "$(rlocation $TEST_WORKSPACE/toolchains/unittest/BUILD)" \
+    > toolchains/unittest/BUILD
 
   # Create test files.
   mkdir -p testdir
diff --git a/tests/write_file/BUILD b/tests/write_file/BUILD
index e4f2a942..faae93da 100644
--- a/tests/write_file/BUILD
+++ b/tests/write_file/BUILD
@@ -35,9 +35,10 @@
 load("//rules:diff_test.bzl", "diff_test")
 load("//rules:write_file.bzl", "write_file")
 
-licenses(["notice"])
-
-package(default_testonly = 1)
+package(
+    default_applicable_licenses = ["//:license"],
+    default_testonly = 1,
+)
 
 sh_test(
     name = "write_file_tests",
diff --git a/toolchains/unittest/BUILD b/toolchains/unittest/BUILD
index dd23962a..cf50c3fd 100644
--- a/toolchains/unittest/BUILD
+++ b/toolchains/unittest/BUILD
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 load("//lib:unittest.bzl", "TOOLCHAIN_TYPE", "unittest_toolchain")
 
-licenses(["notice"])
+package(default_applicable_licenses = ["//:license"])
 
 toolchain_type(
     name = "toolchain_type",
diff --git a/workspace.bzl b/workspace.bzl
index 29fd1e35..0997ec32 100644
--- a/workspace.bzl
+++ b/workspace.bzl
@@ -15,7 +15,18 @@
 """Dependency registration helpers for repositories which need to load bazel-skylib."""
 
 load("@bazel_skylib//lib:unittest.bzl", "register_unittest_toolchains")
+load("@bazel_tools//tools/build_defs/repo:http.bzl", "http_archive")
+load("@bazel_tools//tools/build_defs/repo:utils.bzl", "maybe")
 
 def bazel_skylib_workspace():
     """Registers toolchains and declares repository dependencies of the bazel_skylib repository."""
+    maybe(
+        http_archive,
+        name = "rules_license",
+        sha256 = "4531deccb913639c30e5c7512a054d5d875698daeb75d8cf90f284375fe7c360",
+        urls = [
+            "https://mirror.bazel.build/github.com/bazelbuild/rules_license/releases/download/0.0.7/rules_license-0.0.7.tar.gz",
+            "https://github.com/bazelbuild/rules_license/releases/download/0.0.7/rules_license-0.0.7.tar.gz",
+        ],
+    )
     register_unittest_toolchains()