diff --git a/docs/autolinking.md b/docs/autolinking.md
index f01ab2474..09f272959 100644
--- a/docs/autolinking.md
+++ b/docs/autolinking.md
@@ -94,11 +94,12 @@ On the iOS side, you will need to ensure you have a Podspec to the root of your
 
 A library can add a `react-native.config.js` configuration file, which will customize the defaults.
 
-## How do I disable autolinking for unsupported package?
+## How can I disable autolinking for unsupported library?
 
 During the transition period some packages may not support autolinking on certain platforms. To disable autolinking for a package, update your `react-native.config.js`'s `dependencies` entry to look like this:
 
 ```js
+// react-native.config.js
 module.exports = {
   dependencies: {
     'some-unsupported-package': {
@@ -109,3 +110,18 @@ module.exports = {
   },
 };
 ```
+
+## How can I autolink a local library?
+
+We can leverage CLI configuration to make it "see" React Native libraries that are not part of our 3rd party dependencies. To do so, update your `react-native.config.js`'s `dependencies` entry to look like this:
+
+```js
+// react-native.config.js
+module.exports = {
+  dependencies: {
+    'local-rn-library': {
+      root: '/root/libraries',
+    },
+  },
+};
+```
diff --git a/docs/projects.md b/docs/projects.md
index caee753ba..abc704497 100644
--- a/docs/projects.md
+++ b/docs/projects.md
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ For example, you could set:
 ```js
 module.exports = {
   dependencies: {
-    ['react-native-webview']: {
+    'react-native-webview': {
       platforms: {
         ios: null,
       },
@@ -120,6 +120,18 @@ module.exports = {
 
 in order to disable linking of React Native WebView on iOS.
 
+Another use-case would be supporting local libraries that are not discoverable for autolinking, since they're not part of your `dependencies` or `devDependencies`:
+
+```js
+module.exports = {
+  dependencies: {
+    'local-rn-library': {
+      root: '/root/libraries',
+    },
+  },
+};
+```
+
 The object provided here is deep merged with the dependency config. Check [`projectConfig`](platforms.md#projectconfig) and [`dependencyConfig`](platforms.md#dependencyConfig) return values for a full list of properties that you can override.
 
 > Note: This is an advanced feature and you should not need to use it mos of the time.
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/tools/config/__tests__/index-test.js b/packages/cli/src/tools/config/__tests__/index-test.js
index bb19f1787..c65f138e2 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/tools/config/__tests__/index-test.js
+++ b/packages/cli/src/tools/config/__tests__/index-test.js
@@ -285,8 +285,6 @@ test.skip('should skip packages that have invalid configuration', () => {
 });
 
 test('does not use restricted "react-native" key to resolve config from package.json', () => {
-  jest.resetModules();
-
   writeFiles(DIR, {
     'node_modules/react-native-netinfo/package.json': `{
       "react-native": "src/index.js"
@@ -302,3 +300,53 @@ test('does not use restricted "react-native" key to resolve config from package.
   expect(dependencies).toHaveProperty('react-native-netinfo');
   expect(spy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
 });
+
+test('supports dependencies from user configuration with custom root and properties', () => {
+  writeFiles(DIR, {
+    'node_modules/react-native/package.json': '{}',
+    'native-libs/local-lib/ios/LocalRNLibrary.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj': '',
+    'react-native.config.js': `module.exports = {
+      dependencies: {
+        'local-lib': {
+          root: "${DIR}/native-libs/local-lib",
+          platforms: {
+            ios: {
+              podspecPath: "custom-path"
+            }
+          }
+        },
+      }
+    }`,
+    'package.json': `{
+      "dependencies": {
+        "react-native": "0.0.1"
+      }
+    }`,
+  });
+
+  const {dependencies} = loadConfig(DIR);
+  expect(removeString(dependencies['local-lib'], DIR)).toMatchInlineSnapshot(`
+    Object {
+      "assets": Array [],
+      "hooks": Object {},
+      "name": "local-lib",
+      "params": Array [],
+      "platforms": Object {
+        "android": null,
+        "ios": Object {
+          "folder": "<<REPLACED>>/native-libs/local-lib",
+          "libraryFolder": "Libraries",
+          "pbxprojPath": "<<REPLACED>>/native-libs/local-lib/ios/LocalRNLibrary.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj",
+          "plist": Array [],
+          "podfile": null,
+          "podspecPath": "custom-path",
+          "projectName": "LocalRNLibrary.xcodeproj",
+          "projectPath": "<<REPLACED>>/native-libs/local-lib/ios/LocalRNLibrary.xcodeproj",
+          "sharedLibraries": Array [],
+          "sourceDir": "<<REPLACED>>/native-libs/local-lib/ios",
+        },
+      },
+      "root": "<<REPLACED>>/native-libs/local-lib",
+    }
+  `);
+});
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/tools/config/index.js b/packages/cli/src/tools/config/index.js
index c6e5a088f..a9924aa95 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/tools/config/index.js
+++ b/packages/cli/src/tools/config/index.js
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ function loadConfig(projectRoot: string = process.cwd()): ConfigT {
         ? path.resolve(projectRoot, userConfig.reactNativePath)
         : resolveReactNativePath(projectRoot);
     },
-    dependencies: {},
+    dependencies: userConfig.dependencies,
     commands: userConfig.commands,
     get assets() {
       return findAssets(projectRoot, userConfig.assets);
@@ -97,90 +97,94 @@ function loadConfig(projectRoot: string = process.cwd()): ConfigT {
 
   let depsWithWarnings = [];
 
-  const finalConfig = findDependencies(projectRoot).reduce(
-    (acc: ConfigT, dependencyName) => {
-      let root;
-      let config;
-      try {
-        root = resolveNodeModuleDir(projectRoot, dependencyName);
-        const output = readDependencyConfigFromDisk(root);
-        config = output.config;
+  const finalConfig = [
+    ...Object.keys(userConfig.dependencies),
+    ...findDependencies(projectRoot),
+  ].reduce((acc: ConfigT, dependencyName) => {
+    const localDependencyRoot =
+      userConfig.dependencies[dependencyName] &&
+      userConfig.dependencies[dependencyName].root;
+    let root;
+    let config;
+    try {
+      root =
+        localDependencyRoot ||
+        resolveNodeModuleDir(projectRoot, dependencyName);
+      const output = readDependencyConfigFromDisk(root);
+      config = output.config;
 
-        if (output.legacy) {
-          const pkg = require(path.join(root, 'package.json'));
-          const link =
-            pkg.homepage || `https://npmjs.com/package/${dependencyName}`;
-          depsWithWarnings.push([dependencyName, link]);
-        }
-      } catch (error) {
-        logger.warn(
-          inlineString(`
-            Package ${chalk.bold(
-              dependencyName,
-            )} has been ignored because it contains invalid configuration.
-
-            Reason: ${chalk.dim(error.message)}
-          `),
-        );
-        return acc;
+      if (output.legacy && !localDependencyRoot) {
+        const pkg = require(path.join(root, 'package.json'));
+        const link =
+          pkg.homepage || `https://npmjs.com/package/${dependencyName}`;
+        depsWithWarnings.push([dependencyName, link]);
       }
+    } catch (error) {
+      logger.warn(
+        inlineString(`
+          Package ${chalk.bold(
+            dependencyName,
+          )} has been ignored because it contains invalid configuration.
 
-      /**
-       * @todo: remove this code once `react-native` is published with
-       * `platforms` and `commands` inside `react-native.config.js`.
-       */
-      if (dependencyName === 'react-native') {
-        if (Object.keys(config.platforms).length === 0) {
-          config.platforms = {ios, android};
-        }
-        if (config.commands.length === 0) {
-          config.commands = [...ios.commands, ...android.commands];
-        }
+          Reason: ${chalk.dim(error.message)}`),
+      );
+      return acc;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @todo: remove this code once `react-native` is published with
+     * `platforms` and `commands` inside `react-native.config.js`.
+     */
+    if (dependencyName === 'react-native') {
+      if (Object.keys(config.platforms).length === 0) {
+        config.platforms = {ios, android};
+      }
+      if (config.commands.length === 0) {
+        config.commands = [...ios.commands, ...android.commands];
       }
+    }
 
-      const isPlatform = Object.keys(config.platforms).length > 0;
+    const isPlatform = Object.keys(config.platforms).length > 0;
 
-      /**
-       * Legacy `rnpm` config required `haste` to be defined. With new config,
-       * we do it automatically.
-       *
-       * @todo: Remove this once `rnpm` config is deprecated and all major RN libs are converted.
-       */
-      const haste = config.haste || {
-        providesModuleNodeModules: isPlatform ? [dependencyName] : [],
-        platforms: Object.keys(config.platforms),
-      };
+    /**
+     * Legacy `rnpm` config required `haste` to be defined. With new config,
+     * we do it automatically.
+     *
+     * @todo: Remove this once `rnpm` config is deprecated and all major RN libs are converted.
+     */
+    const haste = config.haste || {
+      providesModuleNodeModules: isPlatform ? [dependencyName] : [],
+      platforms: Object.keys(config.platforms),
+    };
 
-      return (assign({}, acc, {
-        dependencies: assign({}, acc.dependencies, {
-          // $FlowExpectedError: Dynamic getters are not supported
-          get [dependencyName]() {
-            return getDependencyConfig(
-              root,
-              dependencyName,
-              finalConfig,
-              config,
-              userConfig,
-              isPlatform,
-            );
-          },
-        }),
-        commands: [...acc.commands, ...config.commands],
-        platforms: {
-          ...acc.platforms,
-          ...config.platforms,
+    return (assign({}, acc, {
+      dependencies: assign({}, acc.dependencies, {
+        // $FlowExpectedError: Dynamic getters are not supported
+        get [dependencyName]() {
+          return getDependencyConfig(
+            root,
+            dependencyName,
+            finalConfig,
+            config,
+            userConfig,
+            isPlatform,
+          );
         },
-        haste: {
-          providesModuleNodeModules: [
-            ...acc.haste.providesModuleNodeModules,
-            ...haste.providesModuleNodeModules,
-          ],
-          platforms: [...acc.haste.platforms, ...haste.platforms],
-        },
-      }): ConfigT);
-    },
-    initialConfig,
-  );
+      }),
+      commands: [...acc.commands, ...config.commands],
+      platforms: {
+        ...acc.platforms,
+        ...config.platforms,
+      },
+      haste: {
+        providesModuleNodeModules: [
+          ...acc.haste.providesModuleNodeModules,
+          ...haste.providesModuleNodeModules,
+        ],
+        platforms: [...acc.haste.platforms, ...haste.platforms],
+      },
+    }): ConfigT);
+  }, initialConfig);
 
   if (depsWithWarnings.length) {
     logger.warn(
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/tools/config/readConfigFromDisk.js b/packages/cli/src/tools/config/readConfigFromDisk.js
index 76a9c7e38..197ed237b 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/tools/config/readConfigFromDisk.js
+++ b/packages/cli/src/tools/config/readConfigFromDisk.js
@@ -140,7 +140,24 @@ const loadProjectCommands = (
 function readLegacyDependencyConfigFromDisk(
   rootFolder: string,
 ): ?UserDependencyConfigT {
-  const {rnpm: config} = require(path.join(rootFolder, 'package.json'));
+  let config = {};
+
+  try {
+    config = require(path.join(rootFolder, 'package.json')).rnpm;
+  } catch (error) {
+    // package.json is usually missing in local libraries that are not in
+    // project "dependencies", so we just return a bare config
+    return {
+      dependency: {
+        platforms: {},
+        assets: [],
+        hooks: {},
+        params: [],
+      },
+      commands: [],
+      platforms: {},
+    };
+  }
 
   if (!config) {
     return undefined;
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/tools/config/schema.js b/packages/cli/src/tools/config/schema.js
index a6ee6d4a4..8bb0174c7 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/tools/config/schema.js
+++ b/packages/cli/src/tools/config/schema.js
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ export const projectConfig = t
       t.string(),
       t
         .object({
+          root: t.string(),
           platforms: map(t.string(), t.any()).keys({
             ios: t
               .object({
diff --git a/types/index.js b/types/index.js
index 6d9015f36..32ba63ef2 100644
--- a/types/index.js
+++ b/types/index.js
@@ -179,8 +179,8 @@ export type UserDependencyConfigT = {
   // Additional dependency settings
   dependency: {
     platforms: {
-      android: DependencyParamsAndroidT,
-      ios: ProjectParamsIOST,
+      android?: DependencyParamsAndroidT,
+      ios?: ProjectParamsIOST,
       [key: string]: any,
     },
     assets: string[],