diff --git a/h/celery.py b/h/celery.py
index 685e48bbb00..731ea7becdc 100644
--- a/h/celery.py
+++ b/h/celery.py
@@ -73,6 +73,8 @@
     # This can be overridden on a per-task basis by adding time_limit=n to the
     # task's @app.task() arguments.
     task_time_limit=240,
+    # Disable Celery task rate limits in local development.
+    worker_disable_rate_limits=os.environ.get("DEV") == "true",
     imports=(
         "h.tasks.annotations",
         "h.tasks.cleanup",
diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index d86433b649f..7e6f10efc06 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ passenv =
 setenv =
     PYTHONUNBUFFERED = 1
     REPORT_FDW_USERS=lms-fdw report-fdw
+    dev: DEV = {env:DEV:true}
     dev: PYTHONPATH = .
     dev: APP_URL = {env:APP_URL:http://localhost:5000}
     dev: WEBSOCKET_URL = {env:WEBSOCKET_URL:ws://localhost:5001/ws}