diff --git a/lib/overcommit/hook/pre_push/protected_branches.rb b/lib/overcommit/hook/pre_push/protected_branches.rb
index fe943695..aca3f2ec 100644
--- a/lib/overcommit/hook/pre_push/protected_branches.rb
+++ b/lib/overcommit/hook/pre_push/protected_branches.rb
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 # frozen_string_literal: true
 
 module Overcommit::Hook::PrePush
-  # Prevents destructive updates to specified branches.
+  # Prevents updates to specified branches.
+  # Accepts a 'destructive_only' option globally or per branch
+  # to only prevent destructive updates.
   class ProtectedBranches < Base
     def run
       return :pass unless illegal_pushes.any?
@@ -17,32 +19,55 @@ def run
 
     def illegal_pushes
       @illegal_pushes ||= pushed_refs.select do |pushed_ref|
-        protected?(pushed_ref.remote_ref) && allow_non_destructive?(pushed_ref)
+        protected?(pushed_ref)
       end
     end
 
-    def protected?(remote_ref)
+    def protected?(ref)
+      find_pattern(ref.remote_ref)&.destructive?(ref)
+    end
+
+    def find_pattern(remote_ref)
       ref_name = remote_ref[%r{refs/heads/(.*)}, 1]
-      return false if ref_name.nil?
-      protected_branch_patterns.any? do |pattern|
-        File.fnmatch(pattern, ref_name)
+      return if ref_name.nil?
+
+      patterns.find do |pattern|
+        File.fnmatch(pattern.to_s, ref_name)
       end
     end
 
-    def protected_branch_patterns
-      @protected_branch_patterns ||= Array(config['branches']).
-        concat(Array(config['branch_patterns']))
+    def patterns
+      @patterns ||= fetch_patterns
     end
 
-    def destructive_only?
+    def fetch_patterns
+      branch_configurations.map do |pattern|
+        if pattern.is_a?(Hash)
+          Pattern.new(pattern.keys.first, pattern['destructive_only'])
+        else
+          Pattern.new(pattern, global_destructive_only?)
+        end
+      end
+    end
+
+    def branch_configurations
+      config['branches'].to_a + config['branch_patterns'].to_a
+    end
+
+    def global_destructive_only?
       config['destructive_only'].nil? || config['destructive_only']
     end
 
-    def allow_non_destructive?(ref)
-      if destructive_only?
-        ref.destructive?
-      else
-        true
+    Pattern = Struct.new('Pattern', :name, :destructive_only) do
+      alias_method :to_s, :name
+      alias_method :destructive_only?, :destructive_only
+
+      def destructive?(ref)
+        if destructive_only?
+          ref.destructive?
+        else
+          true
+        end
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/spec/integration/protected_branches_spec.rb b/spec/integration/protected_branches_spec.rb
index 8eade771..115be29d 100644
--- a/spec/integration/protected_branches_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/integration/protected_branches_spec.rb
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@
         enabled: true
         branches:
           - protected
+          - protected_for_destructive_only:
+            destructive_only: true
   YML
 
   around do |example|
diff --git a/spec/overcommit/hook/pre_push/protected_branches_spec.rb b/spec/overcommit/hook/pre_push/protected_branches_spec.rb
index 92a27d07..0f8db55a 100644
--- a/spec/overcommit/hook/pre_push/protected_branches_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/overcommit/hook/pre_push/protected_branches_spec.rb
@@ -15,13 +15,15 @@
   let(:context) { double('context') }
   subject { described_class.new(config, context) }
 
-  let(:protected_branch_patterns) { ['master', 'release/*'] }
+  let(:branch_configurations) do
+    ['master', 'release/*', { 'destructive_only_branch' => nil, 'destructive_only' => true }]
+  end
   let(:pushed_ref) do
     instance_double(Overcommit::HookContext::PrePush::PushedRef)
   end
 
   before do
-    subject.stub(protected_branch_patterns: protected_branch_patterns)
+    subject.stub(branch_configurations: branch_configurations)
     pushed_ref.stub(:remote_ref).and_return("refs/heads/#{pushed_ref_name}")
     context.stub(:pushed_refs).and_return([pushed_ref])
   end
@@ -94,6 +96,16 @@
       let(:pushed_ref_name) { 'release/0.1.0' }
       include_examples 'protected branch'
     end
+
+    context 'when branch overwrites global destructive_only' do
+      before do
+        pushed_ref.stub(:destructive?).and_return(true)
+      end
+      let(:pushed_ref_name) { 'destructive_only_branch' }
+      let(:hook_config) { { 'destructive_only' => false } }
+
+      it { should fail_hook }
+    end
   end
 
   context 'when pushing tags' do