diff --git a/cli/azd/docs/extensions/extension-framework.md b/cli/azd/docs/extensions/extension-framework.md
index 0c76569e4a3..06827531733 100644
--- a/cli/azd/docs/extensions/extension-framework.md
+++ b/cli/azd/docs/extensions/extension-framework.md
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ azd extension source add -n azd -t url -l "https://aka.ms/azd/extensions/registr
 
 A shared development registry can be added to your `azd` configuration.
 This registry contains extensions that are experiments and also used for internal testing before shipping official extensions.
+The registry is hosted in the [`azd` GitHub repo](https://github.com/Azure/azure-dev/blob/main/cli/azd/extensions/registry.dev.json).
 
 To opt-in for the development registry run the following command:
 
diff --git a/cli/azd/extensions/registry.dev.json b/cli/azd/extensions/registry.dev.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f2b45f14731
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/azd/extensions/registry.dev.json
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+{
+  "schemaVersion": "1.0",
+  "extensions": []
+}
diff --git a/cli/azd/pkg/extensions/registry_files_test.go b/cli/azd/pkg/extensions/registry_files_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..59eb41301c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/azd/pkg/extensions/registry_files_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
+// Licensed under the MIT License.
+
+package extensions
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+func TestDevRegistryFileIsValid(t *testing.T) {
+	registryPath := filepath.Join("..", "..", "extensions", "registry.dev.json")
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(registryPath)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	var registry Registry
+	require.NoError(t, json.Unmarshal(data, &registry))
+	require.Equal(t, CurrentRegistrySchemaVersion, registry.SchemaVersion)
+
+	result := ValidateRegistry(&registry, false)
+	require.True(t, result.Valid, "registry.dev.json failed validation: %+v", result)
+}
diff --git a/docs/architecture/extension-framework.md b/docs/architecture/extension-framework.md
index 5d0f31e8171..4e60d671d1e 100644
--- a/docs/architecture/extension-framework.md
+++ b/docs/architecture/extension-framework.md
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ azd (host)
 Extensions are discovered from registries — JSON manifests that list available extensions with their versions, capabilities, and download URLs.
 
 - **Official registry:** `https://aka.ms/azd/extensions/registry`
-- **Dev registry:** `https://aka.ms/azd/extensions/registry/dev` (unsigned builds)
+- **Dev registry:** `https://aka.ms/azd/extensions/registry/dev` (unsigned builds, backed by `cli/azd/extensions/registry.dev.json`)
 - **Local sources:** File-based manifests for development
 
 ### Lifecycle