diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index b92b9edba654c..323bb78787b0f 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -5,8 +5,12 @@
 /.settings
 atlassian*
 /nbproject
+/robots.txt
+/pub/robots.txt
 /sitemap
 /sitemap.xml
+/pub/sitemap
+/pub/sitemap.xml
 /.idea
 /.gitattributes
 /app/config_sandbox
diff --git a/app/code/Magento/Config/Model/Config/Backend/Admin/Robots.php b/app/code/Magento/Config/Model/Config/Backend/Admin/Robots.php
index deb9daf13df86..b8cd9a47476d5 100644
--- a/app/code/Magento/Config/Model/Config/Backend/Admin/Robots.php
+++ b/app/code/Magento/Config/Model/Config/Backend/Admin/Robots.php
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@
  */
 namespace Magento\Config\Model\Config\Backend\Admin;
 
-use Magento\Framework\App\Filesystem\DirectoryList;
+use Magento\Config\Model\Config\Reader\Source\Deployed\DocumentRoot;
+use Magento\Framework\App\ObjectManager;
 
 class Robots extends \Magento\Framework\App\Config\Value
 {
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ class Robots extends \Magento\Framework\App\Config\Value
      * @param \Magento\Framework\Model\ResourceModel\AbstractResource $resource
      * @param \Magento\Framework\Data\Collection\AbstractDb $resourceCollection
      * @param array $data
+     * @param DocumentRoot $documentRoot
      */
     public function __construct(
         \Magento\Framework\Model\Context $context,
@@ -41,10 +43,13 @@ public function __construct(
         \Magento\Framework\Filesystem $filesystem,
         \Magento\Framework\Model\ResourceModel\AbstractResource $resource = null,
         \Magento\Framework\Data\Collection\AbstractDb $resourceCollection = null,
-        array $data = []
+        array $data = [],
+        \Magento\Config\Model\Config\Reader\Source\Deployed\DocumentRoot $documentRoot = null
     ) {
         parent::__construct($context, $registry, $config, $cacheTypeList, $resource, $resourceCollection, $data);
-        $this->_directory = $filesystem->getDirectoryWrite(DirectoryList::ROOT);
+
+        $documentRoot = $documentRoot ?: ObjectManager::getInstance()->get(DocumentRoot::class);
+        $this->_directory = $filesystem->getDirectoryWrite($documentRoot->getPath());
         $this->_file = 'robots.txt';
     }
 
diff --git a/app/code/Magento/Config/Model/Config/Reader/Source/Deployed/DocumentRoot.php b/app/code/Magento/Config/Model/Config/Reader/Source/Deployed/DocumentRoot.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..81fb480280868
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/code/Magento/Config/Model/Config/Reader/Source/Deployed/DocumentRoot.php
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+<?php
+/**
+ * Copyright © Magento, Inc. All rights reserved.
+ * See COPYING.txt for license details.
+ */
+
+namespace Magento\Config\Model\Config\Reader\Source\Deployed;
+
+use Magento\Framework\Config\ConfigOptionsListConstants;
+use Magento\Framework\App\Filesystem\DirectoryList;
+use Magento\Framework\App\DeploymentConfig;
+
+/**
+ * Class DocumentRoot
+ * @package Magento\Config\Model\Config\Reader\Source\Deployed
+ */
+class DocumentRoot
+{
+    /**
+     * @var DeploymentConfig
+     */
+    private $config;
+
+    /**
+     * DocumentRoot constructor.
+     * @param DeploymentConfig $config
+     */
+    public function __construct(DeploymentConfig $config)
+    {
+        $this->config = $config;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * A shortcut to load the document root path from the DirectoryList based on the
+     * deployment configuration.
+     *
+     * @return string
+     */
+    public function getPath()
+    {
+        return $this->isPub() ? DirectoryList::PUB : DirectoryList::ROOT;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns whether the deployment configuration specifies that the document root is
+     * in the pub/ folder. This affects ares such as sitemaps and robots.txt (and will
+     * likely be extended to control other areas).
+     *
+     * @return bool
+     */
+    public function isPub()
+    {
+        return (bool)$this->config->get(ConfigOptionsListConstants::CONFIG_PATH_DOCUMENT_ROOT_IS_PUB);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/app/code/Magento/Config/Test/Unit/Model/Config/Reader/Source/Deployed/DocumentRootTest.php b/app/code/Magento/Config/Test/Unit/Model/Config/Reader/Source/Deployed/DocumentRootTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..4d98d0061d176
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/code/Magento/Config/Test/Unit/Model/Config/Reader/Source/Deployed/DocumentRootTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+<?php
+/**
+ * Copyright © Magento, Inc. All rights reserved.
+ * See COPYING.txt for license details.
+ */
+namespace Magento\Config\Test\Unit\Model\Config\Reader\Source\Deployed;
+
+use Magento\Config\Model\Config\Reader;
+use Magento\Config\Model\Config\Reader\Source\Deployed\SettingChecker;
+use Magento\Framework\App\Config;
+use Magento\Framework\App\DeploymentConfig;
+use Magento\Config\Model\Placeholder\PlaceholderInterface;
+use Magento\Config\Model\Placeholder\PlaceholderFactory;
+use Magento\Framework\App\Filesystem\DirectoryList;
+use Magento\Framework\Config\ConfigOptionsListConstants;
+
+/**
+ * Test class for checking settings that defined in config file
+ */
+class DocumentRootTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
+{
+    /**
+     * @var Config|\PHPUnit_Framework_MockObject_MockObject
+     */
+    private $configMock;
+
+    /**
+     * @var Reader\Source\Deployed\DocumentRoot
+     */
+    private $documentRoot;
+
+    public function setUp()
+    {
+        $this->configMock = $this->getMockBuilder(DeploymentConfig::class)
+            ->disableOriginalConstructor()
+            ->getMock();
+
+        $this->documentRoot = new Reader\Source\Deployed\DocumentRoot($this->configMock);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Ensures that the path returned matches the pub/ path.
+     */
+    public function testGetPath()
+    {
+        $this->configMockSetForDocumentRootIsPub();
+
+        $this->assertSame(DirectoryList::PUB, $this->documentRoot->getPath());
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Ensures that the deployment configuration returns the mocked value for
+     * the pub/ folder.
+     */
+    public function testIsPub()
+    {
+        $this->configMockSetForDocumentRootIsPub();
+
+        $this->assertSame(true, $this->documentRoot->isPub());
+    }
+
+    private function configMockSetForDocumentRootIsPub()
+    {
+        $this->configMock->expects($this->any())
+            ->method('get')
+            ->willReturnMap([
+                [
+                    ConfigOptionsListConstants::CONFIG_PATH_DOCUMENT_ROOT_IS_PUB,
+                    null,
+                    true
+                ],
+            ]);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/app/code/Magento/Sitemap/Block/Adminhtml/Grid/Renderer/Link.php b/app/code/Magento/Sitemap/Block/Adminhtml/Grid/Renderer/Link.php
index 176ff58aa0bfc..ffc2bf5f6d1cf 100644
--- a/app/code/Magento/Sitemap/Block/Adminhtml/Grid/Renderer/Link.php
+++ b/app/code/Magento/Sitemap/Block/Adminhtml/Grid/Renderer/Link.php
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@
 namespace Magento\Sitemap\Block\Adminhtml\Grid\Renderer;
 
 use Magento\Framework\App\Filesystem\DirectoryList;
+use Magento\Config\Model\Config\Reader\Source\Deployed\DocumentRoot;
+use Magento\Framework\App\ObjectManager;
 
 class Link extends \Magento\Backend\Block\Widget\Grid\Column\Renderer\AbstractRenderer
 {
@@ -24,20 +26,29 @@ class Link extends \Magento\Backend\Block\Widget\Grid\Column\Renderer\AbstractRe
      */
     protected $_sitemapFactory;
 
+    /**
+     * @var DocumentRoot
+     */
+    protected $documentRoot;
+
     /**
      * @param \Magento\Backend\Block\Context $context
      * @param \Magento\Sitemap\Model\SitemapFactory $sitemapFactory
      * @param \Magento\Framework\Filesystem $filesystem
      * @param array $data
+     * @param DocumentRoot $documentRoot
      */
     public function __construct(
         \Magento\Backend\Block\Context $context,
         \Magento\Sitemap\Model\SitemapFactory $sitemapFactory,
         \Magento\Framework\Filesystem $filesystem,
-        array $data = []
+        array $data = [],
+        DocumentRoot $documentRoot = null
     ) {
         $this->_sitemapFactory = $sitemapFactory;
         $this->_filesystem = $filesystem;
+        $this->documentRoot = $documentRoot ?: ObjectManager::getInstance()->get(DocumentRoot::class);
+
         parent::__construct($context, $data);
     }
 
@@ -54,7 +65,8 @@ public function render(\Magento\Framework\DataObject $row)
         $url = $this->escapeHtml($sitemap->getSitemapUrl($row->getSitemapPath(), $row->getSitemapFilename()));
 
         $fileName = preg_replace('/^\//', '', $row->getSitemapPath() . $row->getSitemapFilename());
-        $directory = $this->_filesystem->getDirectoryRead(DirectoryList::ROOT);
+        $documentRootPath = $this->documentRoot->getPath();
+        $directory = $this->_filesystem->getDirectoryRead($documentRootPath);
         if ($directory->isFile($fileName)) {
             return sprintf('<a href="%1$s">%1$s</a>', $url);
         }
diff --git a/app/code/Magento/Sitemap/Model/Sitemap.php b/app/code/Magento/Sitemap/Model/Sitemap.php
index 12e65b7a3490c..6ba2a7146fe0c 100644
--- a/app/code/Magento/Sitemap/Model/Sitemap.php
+++ b/app/code/Magento/Sitemap/Model/Sitemap.php
@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@
 // @codingStandardsIgnoreFile
 
 namespace Magento\Sitemap\Model;
-
-use Magento\Framework\App\Filesystem\DirectoryList;
+use Magento\Config\Model\Config\Reader\Source\Deployed\DocumentRoot;
+use Magento\Framework\App\ObjectManager;
 
 /**
  * Sitemap model
@@ -179,11 +179,13 @@ public function __construct(
         \Magento\Framework\Stdlib\DateTime $dateTime,
         \Magento\Framework\Model\ResourceModel\AbstractResource $resource = null,
         \Magento\Framework\Data\Collection\AbstractDb $resourceCollection = null,
+        \Magento\Config\Model\Config\Reader\Source\Deployed\DocumentRoot $documentRoot = null,
         array $data = []
     ) {
         $this->_escaper = $escaper;
         $this->_sitemapData = $sitemapData;
-        $this->_directory = $filesystem->getDirectoryWrite(DirectoryList::ROOT);
+        $documentRoot = $documentRoot ?: ObjectManager::getInstance()->get(DocumentRoot::class);
+        $this->_directory = $filesystem->getDirectoryWrite($documentRoot->getPath());
         $this->_categoryFactory = $categoryFactory;
         $this->_productFactory = $productFactory;
         $this->_cmsFactory = $cmsFactory;
diff --git a/dev/tests/integration/testsuite/Magento/Config/Model/Config/Backend/Admin/RobotsTest.php b/dev/tests/integration/testsuite/Magento/Config/Model/Config/Backend/Admin/RobotsTest.php
index cb25bfb3d90ad..6e343033fa0d7 100644
--- a/dev/tests/integration/testsuite/Magento/Config/Model/Config/Backend/Admin/RobotsTest.php
+++ b/dev/tests/integration/testsuite/Magento/Config/Model/Config/Backend/Admin/RobotsTest.php
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
  */
 namespace Magento\Config\Model\Config\Backend\Admin;
 
-use Magento\Framework\App\Filesystem\DirectoryList;
+use Magento\Config\Model\Config\Reader\Source\Deployed\DocumentRoot;
 
 /**
  * @magentoAppArea adminhtml
@@ -33,11 +33,11 @@ protected function setUp()
         $this->model = $objectManager->create(\Magento\Config\Model\Config\Backend\Admin\Robots::class);
         $this->model->setPath('design/search_engine_robots/custom_instructions');
         $this->model->afterLoad();
+
+        $documentRootPath = $objectManager->get(DocumentRoot::class)->getPath();
         $this->rootDirectory = $objectManager->get(
             \Magento\Framework\Filesystem::class
-        )->getDirectoryRead(
-            DirectoryList::ROOT
-        );
+        )->getDirectoryRead($documentRootPath);
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/generated/.htaccess b/generated/.htaccess
index 896fbc5a341ea..7d3aaf1a903f7 100644
--- a/generated/.htaccess
+++ b/generated/.htaccess
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
-Order deny,allow
+Order allow,deny
 Deny from all
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/internal/Magento/Framework/Config/ConfigOptionsListConstants.php b/lib/internal/Magento/Framework/Config/ConfigOptionsListConstants.php
index c53b576ee3b24..01c2e6b26fdfe 100644
--- a/lib/internal/Magento/Framework/Config/ConfigOptionsListConstants.php
+++ b/lib/internal/Magento/Framework/Config/ConfigOptionsListConstants.php
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ class ConfigOptionsListConstants
     const CONFIG_PATH_DB = 'db';
     const CONFIG_PATH_RESOURCE = 'resource';
     const CONFIG_PATH_CACHE_TYPES = 'cache_types';
+    const CONFIG_PATH_DOCUMENT_ROOT_IS_PUB = 'directories/document_root_is_pub';
+
     /**#@-*/
 
     /**#@+
diff --git a/vendor/.htaccess b/vendor/.htaccess
index cb24fd7fc0b3a..7d3aaf1a903f7 100644
--- a/vendor/.htaccess
+++ b/vendor/.htaccess
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
 Order allow,deny
-Deny from all
+Deny from all
\ No newline at end of file