diff --git a/services/bstein-dev-home/backend-deployment.yaml b/services/bstein-dev-home/backend-deployment.yaml
index b39244ee4..6af496841 100644
--- a/services/bstein-dev-home/backend-deployment.yaml
+++ b/services/bstein-dev-home/backend-deployment.yaml
@@ -141,6 +141,8 @@ spec:
               value: "10"
             - name: PORTAL_RUN_MIGRATIONS
               value: "false"
+            - name: ACCESS_REQUEST_ENABLED
+              value: "false"
             - name: ACCESS_REQUEST_SUBMIT_RATE_LIMIT
               value: "30"
             - name: ACCESS_REQUEST_SUBMIT_RATE_WINDOW_SEC