diff --git a/modules/chanserv/src/lib.rs b/modules/chanserv/src/lib.rs
index 7060bfe..1eb14be 100644
--- a/modules/chanserv/src/lib.rs
+++ b/modules/chanserv/src/lib.rs
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ const TOPICS: &[HelpEntry] = &[
     HelpEntry { cmd: "STATUS", summary: "show a user's access", detail: "Syntax: \x02STATUS <#channel> [nick]\x02\nShows a user's access level on a channel." },
     HelpEntry { cmd: "OP/DEOP/VOICE/DEVOICE", summary: "give or take op/voice", detail: "Syntax: \x02OP|DEOP|VOICE|DEVOICE <#channel> [nick]\x02\nGives or takes channel op or voice." },
     HelpEntry { cmd: "UP/DOWN", summary: "apply or drop your status", detail: "Syntax: \x02UP|DOWN <#channel>\x02\nUP re-applies the op/voice your access entitles you to; DOWN removes your status." },
+    HelpEntry { cmd: "OWNER/PROTECT/HALFOP", summary: "give or take higher status", detail: "Syntax: \x02OWNER|PROTECT|HALFOP <#channel> [nick]\x02 (and \x02DEOWNER|DEPROTECT|DEHALFOP\x02)\nSets +q/+a/+h. OWNER is founder-only; PROTECT and HALFOP need op access." },
     HelpEntry { cmd: "KICK", summary: "kick from the channel", detail: "Syntax: \x02KICK <#channel> <nick> [reason]\x02\nKicks a user from the channel." },
     HelpEntry { cmd: "BAN/UNBAN", summary: "ban or unban a user", detail: "Syntax: \x02BAN <#channel> <nick> [reason]\x02, \x02UNBAN <#channel> [nick]\x02\nBans or unbans a user by host." },
     HelpEntry { cmd: "AKICK", summary: "manage the auto-kick list", detail: "Syntax: \x02AKICK <#channel> ADD <mask> [reason] | DEL <mask> | LIST | CLEAR\x02\nManages the auto-kick list; matches are banned and kicked on join. CLEAR empties it." },
@@ -255,6 +256,12 @@ impl Service for ChanServ {
             Some("DEVOICE") => op::handle(me, from, "-v", args, ctx, net, db),
             Some("UP") => updown::handle(me, from, true, args, ctx, net, db),
             Some("DOWN") => updown::handle(me, from, false, args, ctx, net, db),
+            Some("OWNER") => op::handle(me, from, "+q", args, ctx, net, db),
+            Some("DEOWNER") => op::handle(me, from, "-q", args, ctx, net, db),
+            Some("PROTECT") | Some("ADMIN") => op::handle(me, from, "+a", args, ctx, net, db),
+            Some("DEPROTECT") | Some("DEADMIN") => op::handle(me, from, "-a", args, ctx, net, db),
+            Some("HALFOP") => op::handle(me, from, "+h", args, ctx, net, db),
+            Some("DEHALFOP") => op::handle(me, from, "-h", args, ctx, net, db),
             Some("KICK") => kick::handle(me, from, args, ctx, net, db),
             Some("BAN") => ban::handle(me, from, args, ctx, net, db),
             Some("UNBAN") => unban::handle(me, from, args, ctx, net, db),
diff --git a/modules/chanserv/src/op.rs b/modules/chanserv/src/op.rs
index e641688..cce258d 100644
--- a/modules/chanserv/src/op.rs
+++ b/modules/chanserv/src/op.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,13 @@ pub fn handle(me: &str, from: &Sender, mode: &str, args: &[&str], ctx: &mut Serv
         ctx.notice(me, from.uid, "Syntax: OP/DEOP/VOICE/DEVOICE <#channel> [nick]");
         return;
     };
-    if !super::require_op(me, from, chan, ctx, db) {
+    // Granting owner (+q) is founder-only; op/halfop/protect need op access.
+    let allowed = if mode.contains('q') {
+        super::require_founder(me, from, chan, ctx, db)
+    } else {
+        super::require_op(me, from, chan, ctx, db)
+    };
+    if !allowed {
         return;
     }
     let target = match args.get(2) {
diff --git a/src/engine/tests.rs b/src/engine/tests.rs
index 164545d..55299b9 100644
--- a/src/engine/tests.rs
+++ b/src/engine/tests.rs
@@ -866,6 +866,43 @@
         assert!(out.iter().any(|a| matches!(a, NetAction::Notice { text, .. } if text.contains("empty"))), "now empty: {out:?}");
     }
 
+    // ChanServ OWNER (+q) is founder-only; PROTECT (+a) and HALFOP (+h) need op.
+    #[test]
+    fn chanserv_owner_protect_halfop() {
+        use echo_chanserv::ChanServ;
+        use echo_nickserv::NickServ;
+        let path = std::env::temp_dir().join("echo-csstatus.jsonl");
+        let _ = std::fs::remove_file(&path);
+        let mut db = Db::open(&path, "42S");
+        db.scram_iterations = 4096;
+        db.register("alice", "sesame", None).unwrap();
+        db.register("bob", "pw", None).unwrap();
+        db.register_channel("#c", "alice").unwrap();
+        let mut e = Engine::new(
+            vec![
+                Box::new(NickServ { uid: "42SAAAAAA".into(), guest_nick: "Guest".into(), guest_seq: 0 }),
+                Box::new(ChanServ { uid: "42SAAAAAB".into() }),
+            ],
+            db,
+        );
+        e.handle(NetEvent::UserConnect { uid: "000AAAAAB".into(), nick: "alice".into(), host: "h".into(), ip: "0.0.0.0".into() });
+        e.handle(NetEvent::Privmsg { from: "000AAAAAB".into(), to: "42SAAAAAA".into(), text: "IDENTIFY sesame".into() });
+        e.handle(NetEvent::Join { uid: "000AAAAAB".into(), channel: "#c".into(), op: false });
+        e.handle(NetEvent::UserConnect { uid: "000AAAAAC".into(), nick: "bob".into(), host: "h".into(), ip: "0.0.0.0".into() });
+        e.handle(NetEvent::Privmsg { from: "000AAAAAC".into(), to: "42SAAAAAA".into(), text: "IDENTIFY pw".into() });
+
+        let cs = |e: &mut Engine, uid: &str, t: &str| e.handle(NetEvent::Privmsg { from: uid.into(), to: "42SAAAAAB".into(), text: t.into() });
+        let mode = |out: &[NetAction], m: &str| out.iter().any(|a| matches!(a, NetAction::ChannelMode { modes, .. } if modes == m));
+
+        assert!(mode(&cs(&mut e, "000AAAAAB", "OWNER #c"), "+q 000AAAAAB"), "founder grants +q to self");
+        assert!(mode(&cs(&mut e, "000AAAAAB", "PROTECT #c"), "+a 000AAAAAB"), "founder grants +a");
+        assert!(mode(&cs(&mut e, "000AAAAAB", "HALFOP #c"), "+h 000AAAAAB"), "founder grants +h");
+
+        // bob has no access: OWNER is refused (no +q emitted for him).
+        let out = cs(&mut e, "000AAAAAC", "OWNER #c");
+        assert!(!mode(&out, "+q 000AAAAAC"), "non-founder cannot grant owner: {out:?}");
+    }
+
     // BotServ BOT ADD/LIST is oper-gated (Priv::Admin) and the bot is remembered.
     #[test]
     fn botserv_bot_add_list_is_oper_gated() {