diff --git a/docs/document.rst b/docs/document.rst
index 7207e357c..990bbe8a7 100644
--- a/docs/document.rst
+++ b/docs/document.rst
@@ -4,42 +4,26 @@ Document
 =========
 
 This project uses Sphinx_ documentation generator.
-After you have set up to `develop locally`_, run the following commands to generate the HTML documentation: ::
 
-    $ sphinx-build docs/ docs/_build/html/
+After you have set up to `develop locally`_, run the following command from the project directory to build and serve HTML documentation: ::
+
+    $ make -C docs livehtml
 
 If you set up your project to `develop locally with docker`_, run the following command: ::
 
-    $ docker-compose -f local.yml run --rm django sphinx-build docs/ docs/_build/html/
+    $ docker-compose -f local.yml up docs
+
+Navigate to port 7000 on your host to see the documentation. This will be opened automatically at `localhost`_ for local, non-docker development.
 
 Generate API documentation
 ----------------------------
 
-Sphinx can automatically generate documentation from docstrings, to enable this feature, follow these steps:
+Edit the docs/_source files and project application docstrings to create your documentation.
 
-1. Add Sphinx extension in ``docs/conf.py`` file, like below: ::
-
-    extensions = [
-        'sphinx.ext.autodoc',
-    ]
-
-2. Uncomment the following lines in the ``docs/conf.py`` file: ::
-
-    # import django
-    # sys.path.insert(0, os.path.abspath('..'))
-    # os.environ.setdefault("DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE", "config.settings.local")
-    # django.setup()
-
-3. Run the following command: ::
-
-    $ sphinx-apidoc -f -o ./docs/modules/ ./tpub/ migrations/*
-
-   If you set up your project to `develop locally with docker`_, run the following command: ::
-
-    $ docker-compose -f local.yml run --rm django sphinx-apidoc -f -o ./docs/modules ./tpub/ migrations/*
-
-4. Regenerate HTML documentation as written above.
+Sphinx can automatically include class and function signatures and docstrings in generated documentation. 
+See the generated project documentation for more examples.
 
+.. _localhost: http://localhost:7000/
 .. _Sphinx: https://www.sphinx-doc.org/en/master/index.html
 .. _develop locally: ./developing-locally.html
 .. _develop locally with docker: ./developing-locally-docker.html
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/compose/local/docs/Dockerfile b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/compose/local/docs/Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7736777b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/compose/local/docs/Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+FROM python:3.8-slim-buster
+
+ENV PYTHONUNBUFFERED 1
+ENV PYTHONDONTWRITEBYTECODE 1
+
+RUN apt-get update \
+    # dependencies for building Python packages
+    && apt-get install -y build-essential \
+    # psycopg2 dependencies
+    && apt-get install -y libpq-dev \
+    # Translations dependencies
+    && apt-get install -y gettext \
+    # Uncomment below lines to enable Sphinx output to latex and pdf
+    # && apt-get install -y texlive-latex-recommended \
+    # && apt-get install -y texlive-fonts-recommended \
+    # && apt-get install -y texlive-latex-extra \
+    # && apt-get install -y latexmk \
+    # cleaning up unused files
+    && apt-get purge -y --auto-remove -o APT::AutoRemove::RecommendsImportant=false \
+    && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
+
+# Requirements are installed here to ensure they will be cached.
+COPY ./requirements /requirements
+# All imports needed for autodoc.
+RUN pip install -r /requirements/local.txt -r /requirements/production.txt
+
+WORKDIR /docs
+
+CMD make livehtml
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/Makefile b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/Makefile
index d4bb2cbb9..90f61de32 100644
--- a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/Makefile
+++ b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/Makefile
@@ -3,18 +3,38 @@
 
 # You can set these variables from the command line, and also
 # from the environment for the first two.
-SPHINXOPTS    ?=
-SPHINXBUILD   ?= sphinx-build
-SOURCEDIR     = .
-BUILDDIR      = _build
+SPHINXOPTS    ?= 
+SPHINXBUILD   ?= sphinx-build -c .
+SOURCEDIR     = ./_source
+BUILDDIR      = ./_build
+{%- if cookiecutter.use_docker == 'y' %}
+APP = /app
+{%- else %}
+APP = ../{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}
+{% endif %}
+
+.PHONY: help livehtml apidocs Makefile
 
 # Put it first so that "make" without argument is like "make help".
 help:
-	@$(SPHINXBUILD) -M help "$(SOURCEDIR)" "$(BUILDDIR)" $(SPHINXOPTS) $(O)
+	@$(SPHINXBUILD) help "$(SOURCEDIR)" "$(BUILDDIR)" $(SPHINXOPTS) $(O)
 
-.PHONY: help Makefile
+# Build, watch and serve docs with live reload
+livehtml:
+	sphinx-autobuild -b html 
+	{%- if cookiecutter.use_docker == 'y' %} -H 0.0.0.0 
+	{%- else %} --open-browser 
+	{%- endif %} -p 7000 --watch $(APP) -c . $(SOURCEDIR) $(BUILDDIR)/html
+
+# Outputs rst files from django application code
+apidocs:
+	{%- if cookiecutter.use_docker == 'y' %}
+	sphinx-apidoc -o $(SOURCEDIR)/api /app
+	{%- else %}
+	sphinx-apidoc -o $(SOURCEDIR)/api ../{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}
+	{%- endif %}
 
 # Catch-all target: route all unknown targets to Sphinx using the new
 # "make mode" option.  $(O) is meant as a shortcut for $(SPHINXOPTS).
 %: Makefile
-	@$(SPHINXBUILD) -M $@ "$(SOURCEDIR)" "$(BUILDDIR)" $(SPHINXOPTS) $(O)
+	@$(SPHINXBUILD) -b $@ "$(SOURCEDIR)" "$(BUILDDIR)" $(SPHINXOPTS) $(O)
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/howto.rst b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/howto.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..25f442c37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/howto.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+How To - Project Documentation
+======================================================================
+
+Get Started
+----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+Documentation can be written as rst files in the `{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source`.
+
+{% if cookiecutter.use_docker == 'n' %}
+To build and serve docs, use the command:
+    ::
+    
+        make livehtml 
+    
+from inside the `{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs` directory. 
+{% else %}
+To build and serve docs, use the commands:
+    ::
+    
+        docker-compose -f local.yml up docs
+{% endif %}
+
+Changes to files in `docs/_source` will be picked up and reloaded automatically.
+
+`Sphinx <https://www.sphinx-doc.org/>`_ is the tool used to build documentation.
+
+Docstrings to Documentation
+----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+The sphinx extension `apidoc <https://www.sphinx-doc.org/en/master/man/sphinx-apidoc.html/>`_ is used to automatically document code using signatures and docstrings.
+
+Numpy or Google style docstrings will be picked up from project files and availble for documentation. See the `Napoleon <https://sphinxcontrib-napoleon.readthedocs.io/en/latest/>`_ extension for details.
+
+For an in-use example, see the `page source <_sources/users.rst.txt>`_ for :ref:`users`.
+
+To compile all docstrings automatically into documentation source files, use the command:
+    ::
+    
+        make apidocs
+
+{% if cookiecutter.use_docker == 'y' %}
+This can be done in the docker container:
+    :: 
+        
+        docker run --rm docs make apidocs
+{% endif -%}
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/index.rst b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/index.rst
similarity index 96%
rename from {{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/index.rst
rename to {{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/index.rst
index b107a9e5c..5fafc6966 100644
--- a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/index.rst
+++ b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/index.rst
@@ -10,7 +10,9 @@ Welcome to {{ cookiecutter.project_name }}'s documentation!
    :maxdepth: 2
    :caption: Contents:
 
+   howto
    pycharm/configuration
+   users
 
 
 
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/pycharm/configuration.rst b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/pycharm/configuration.rst
similarity index 100%
rename from {{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/pycharm/configuration.rst
rename to {{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/pycharm/configuration.rst
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/pycharm/images/1.png b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/pycharm/images/1.png
similarity index 100%
rename from {{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/pycharm/images/1.png
rename to {{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/pycharm/images/1.png
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/pycharm/images/2.png b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/pycharm/images/2.png
similarity index 100%
rename from {{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/pycharm/images/2.png
rename to {{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/pycharm/images/2.png
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/pycharm/images/3.png b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/pycharm/images/3.png
similarity index 100%
rename from {{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/pycharm/images/3.png
rename to {{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/pycharm/images/3.png
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/pycharm/images/4.png b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/pycharm/images/4.png
similarity index 100%
rename from {{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/pycharm/images/4.png
rename to {{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/pycharm/images/4.png
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/pycharm/images/7.png b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/pycharm/images/7.png
similarity index 100%
rename from {{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/pycharm/images/7.png
rename to {{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/pycharm/images/7.png
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/pycharm/images/8.png b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/pycharm/images/8.png
similarity index 100%
rename from {{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/pycharm/images/8.png
rename to {{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/pycharm/images/8.png
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/pycharm/images/f1.png b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/pycharm/images/f1.png
similarity index 100%
rename from {{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/pycharm/images/f1.png
rename to {{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/pycharm/images/f1.png
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/pycharm/images/f2.png b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/pycharm/images/f2.png
similarity index 100%
rename from {{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/pycharm/images/f2.png
rename to {{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/pycharm/images/f2.png
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/pycharm/images/f3.png b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/pycharm/images/f3.png
similarity index 100%
rename from {{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/pycharm/images/f3.png
rename to {{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/pycharm/images/f3.png
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/pycharm/images/f4.png b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/pycharm/images/f4.png
similarity index 100%
rename from {{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/pycharm/images/f4.png
rename to {{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/pycharm/images/f4.png
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/pycharm/images/issue1.png b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/pycharm/images/issue1.png
similarity index 100%
rename from {{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/pycharm/images/issue1.png
rename to {{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/pycharm/images/issue1.png
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/pycharm/images/issue2.png b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/pycharm/images/issue2.png
similarity index 100%
rename from {{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/pycharm/images/issue2.png
rename to {{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/pycharm/images/issue2.png
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/users.rst b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/users.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6cf645562
--- /dev/null
+++ b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/_source/users.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+ .. _users:
+
+Users
+======================================================================
+
+Starting a new project, it’s highly recommended to set up a custom user model, 
+even if the default User model is sufficient for you. 
+
+This model behaves identically to the default user model, 
+but you’ll be able to customize it in the future if the need arises.
+
+.. automodule:: {{cookiecutter.project_slug}}.users.models
+   :members:
+   :noindex:
+
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/conf.py b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/conf.py
index bfde1e3a6..691f351e5 100644
--- a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/conf.py
+++ b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/conf.py
@@ -9,15 +9,19 @@
 # If extensions (or modules to document with autodoc) are in another directory,
 # add these directories to sys.path here. If the directory is relative to the
 # documentation root, use os.path.abspath to make it absolute, like shown here.
-#
+
 import os
 import sys
+import django
 
-# import django
-# sys.path.insert(0, os.path.abspath('..'))
-# os.environ.setdefault("DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE", "config.settings.local")
-# django.setup()
-
+{% if cookiecutter.use_docker == 'y' %}
+sys.path.insert(0, os.path.abspath("/app"))
+os.environ.setdefault("DATABASE_URL", "")
+{% else %}
+sys.path.insert(0, os.path.abspath(".."))
+{%- endif %}
+os.environ.setdefault("DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE", "config.settings.local")
+django.setup()
 
 # -- Project information -----------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -31,17 +35,19 @@ author = "{{ cookiecutter.author_name }}"
 # Add any Sphinx extension module names here, as strings. They can be
 # extensions coming with Sphinx (named 'sphinx.ext.*') or your custom
 # ones.
-extensions = []
+extensions = [
+    "sphinx.ext.autodoc",
+    "sphinx.ext.napoleon",
+]
 
 # Add any paths that contain templates here, relative to this directory.
-templates_path = ["_templates"]
+# templates_path = ["_templates"]
 
 # List of patterns, relative to source directory, that match files and
 # directories to ignore when looking for source files.
 # This pattern also affects html_static_path and html_extra_path.
 exclude_patterns = ["_build", "Thumbs.db", ".DS_Store"]
 
-
 # -- Options for HTML output -------------------------------------------------
 
 # The theme to use for HTML and HTML Help pages.  See the documentation for
@@ -52,4 +58,4 @@ html_theme = "alabaster"
 # Add any paths that contain custom static files (such as style sheets) here,
 # relative to this directory. They are copied after the builtin static files,
 # so a file named "default.css" will overwrite the builtin "default.css".
-html_static_path = ["_static"]
+# html_static_path = ["_static"]
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/make.bat b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/make.bat
index 922152e96..b19f42c6a 100644
--- a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/make.bat
+++ b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/docs/make.bat
@@ -4,11 +4,13 @@ pushd %~dp0
 
 REM Command file for Sphinx documentation
 
+
 if "%SPHINXBUILD%" == "" (
-	set SPHINXBUILD=sphinx-build
+	set SPHINXBUILD=sphinx-build -c .
 )
-set SOURCEDIR=.
+set SOURCEDIR=_source
 set BUILDDIR=_build
+set APP=..\{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}
 
 if "%1" == "" goto help
 
@@ -20,16 +22,25 @@ if errorlevel 9009 (
 	echo.to the full path of the 'sphinx-build' executable. Alternatively you
 	echo.may add the Sphinx directory to PATH.
 	echo.
+	echo.Install sphinx-autobuild for live serving.
 	echo.If you don't have Sphinx installed, grab it from
 	echo.http://sphinx-doc.org/
 	exit /b 1
 )
 
-%SPHINXBUILD% -M %1 %SOURCEDIR% %BUILDDIR% %SPHINXOPTS% %O%
+%SPHINXBUILD% -b %1 %SOURCEDIR% %BUILDDIR% %SPHINXOPTS% %O%
 goto end
 
+:livehtml
+sphinx-autobuild -b html --open-browser -p 7000 --watch %APP% -c . %SOURCEDIR% %BUILDDIR%/html
+GOTO :EOF
+
+:apidocs
+sphinx-apidoc -o %SOURCEDIR%/api %APP%
+GOTO :EOF
+
 :help
-%SPHINXBUILD% -M help %SOURCEDIR% %BUILDDIR% %SPHINXOPTS% %O%
+%SPHINXBUILD% -b help %SOURCEDIR% %BUILDDIR% %SPHINXOPTS% %O%
 
 :end
 popd
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/local.yml b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/local.yml
index b603f1778..528e59b2c 100644
--- a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/local.yml
+++ b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/local.yml
@@ -36,6 +36,22 @@ services:
       - local_postgres_data_backups:/backups
     env_file:
       - ./.envs/.local/.postgres
+
+  docs:
+    image: {{ cookiecutter.project_slug }}_local_docs
+    container_name: docs
+    build:
+      context: .
+      dockerfile: ./compose/local/docs/Dockerfile
+    env_file:
+      - ./.envs/.local/.django
+    volumes:
+      - ./docs:/docs
+      - ./config:/app/config
+      - ./{{ cookiecutter.project_slug }}:/app/{{ cookiecutter.project_slug }}
+    ports:
+      - "7000:7000"
+    
   {%- if cookiecutter.use_mailhog == 'y' %}
 
   mailhog:
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/requirements/local.txt b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/requirements/local.txt
index 6db3546e8..9c41385ad 100644
--- a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/requirements/local.txt
+++ b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/requirements/local.txt
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 Werkzeug==1.0.1 # https://github.com/pallets/werkzeug
 ipdb==0.13.3  # https://github.com/gotcha/ipdb
-Sphinx==3.1.1  # https://github.com/sphinx-doc/sphinx
 {%- if cookiecutter.use_docker == 'y' %}
 psycopg2==2.8.5 --no-binary psycopg2  # https://github.com/psycopg/psycopg2
 {%- else %}
@@ -19,6 +18,11 @@ django-stubs==1.5.0  # https://github.com/typeddjango/django-stubs
 pytest==5.4.3  # https://github.com/pytest-dev/pytest
 pytest-sugar==0.9.3  # https://github.com/Frozenball/pytest-sugar
 
+# Documentation
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+sphinx==3.1.1  # https://github.com/sphinx-doc/sphinx
+sphinx-autobuild # https://github.com/GaretJax/sphinx-autobuild
+
 # Code quality
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 flake8==3.8.3  # https://github.com/PyCQA/flake8
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/users/models.py b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/users/models.py
index 57b201cc2..70efdfdec 100644
--- a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/users/models.py
+++ b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/users/models.py
@@ -5,10 +5,17 @@ from django.utils.translation import gettext_lazy as _
 
 
 class User(AbstractUser):
+    """Default user for {{cookiecutter.project_name}}.
+    """
 
-    # First Name and Last Name do not cover name patterns
-    # around the globe.
+    #: First and last name do not cover name patterns around the globe
     name = CharField(_("Name of User"), blank=True, max_length=255)
 
     def get_absolute_url(self):
+        """Get url for user's detail view.
+
+        Returns:
+            str: URL for user detail.
+
+        """
         return reverse("users:detail", kwargs={"username": self.username})