diff --git a/.github/workflows/pre-commit-autoupdate.yml b/.github/workflows/pre-commit-autoupdate.yml
index df4ea1f9..789c13b4 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pre-commit-autoupdate.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pre-commit-autoupdate.yml
@@ -8,10 +8,16 @@ on:
     - cron: "15 2 * * *"
   workflow_dispatch: # to trigger manually
 
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+
 jobs:
   auto-update:
     # Disables this workflow from running in a repository that is not part of the indicated organization/user
     if: github.repository_owner == 'cookiecutter'
+    permissions:
+      contents: write  # for peter-evans/create-pull-request to create branch
+      pull-requests: write  # for peter-evans/create-pull-request to create a PR
 
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/update-contributors.yml b/.github/workflows/update-contributors.yml
index 16c5c622..2e690d32 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/update-contributors.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/update-contributors.yml
@@ -5,10 +5,15 @@ on:
     branches:
       - master
 
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+
 jobs:
   build:
     # Disables this workflow from running in a repository that is not part of the indicated organization/user
     if: github.repository_owner == 'cookiecutter'
+    permissions:
+      contents: write  # for stefanzweifel/git-auto-commit-action to push code in repo
 
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps: