diff --git a/helpdesk/settings.py b/helpdesk/settings.py
index 91f60afe..30c7b1c2 100644
--- a/helpdesk/settings.py
+++ b/helpdesk/settings.py
@@ -357,6 +357,11 @@ HELPDESK_NOTIFY_SUBMITTER_FOR_ALL_TICKET_CHANGES = getattr(
     False,
 )
 
+# If True, private follow-ups (public=False) will not trigger any email notifications
+HELPDESK_PRIVATE_FOLLOWUP_MEANS_NO_EMAILS = getattr(
+    settings, "HELPDESK_PRIVATE_FOLLOWUP_MEANS_NO_EMAILS", False
+)
+
 ########################################
 # options for staff.create_ticket view #
 ########################################
diff --git a/helpdesk/tests/test_email_notifications.py b/helpdesk/tests/test_email_notifications.py
index c9d89d8a..f86df03d 100644
--- a/helpdesk/tests/test_email_notifications.py
+++ b/helpdesk/tests/test_email_notifications.py
@@ -407,3 +407,245 @@ class TicketEmailNotificationTests(TestCase):
             ticket.submitter_email in recipient_list,
             "Submitter email not found in email notifications sent.",
         )
+
+    def test_private_followup_default_behavior_no_submitter_emails(self):
+        """Test that private follow-ups normally don't send submitter emails (existing behavior)."""
+        # Ensure our new setting is disabled (default behavior) and HELPDESK_NOTIFY_SUBMITTER_FOR_ALL_TICKET_CHANGES is False
+        original_setting = getattr(
+            helpdesk_settings, "HELPDESK_PRIVATE_FOLLOWUP_MEANS_NO_EMAILS", False
+        )
+        original_notify_all = getattr(
+            helpdesk_settings, "HELPDESK_NOTIFY_SUBMITTER_FOR_ALL_TICKET_CHANGES", False
+        )
+        setattr(helpdesk_settings, "HELPDESK_PRIVATE_FOLLOWUP_MEANS_NO_EMAILS", False)
+        setattr(
+            helpdesk_settings, "HELPDESK_NOTIFY_SUBMITTER_FOR_ALL_TICKET_CHANGES", False
+        )
+
+        try:
+            self.outbox.clear()  # Clear any existing emails
+            update_ticket(
+                user=self.update_user,
+                ticket=self.existing_ticket,
+                comment="This is a private comment",
+                public=False,  # Private followup
+            )
+
+            email_cnt = len(self.outbox)
+            # Private follow-ups don't send submitter emails by default (only to assigned users if they have email notifications enabled)
+            # Since our test ticket is unassigned, no emails should be sent
+            self.assertEqual(
+                email_cnt,
+                0,
+                f"Expected 0 email notifications for private followup (existing behavior). {email_cnt} were sent.",
+            )
+        finally:
+            # Restore original settings
+            setattr(
+                helpdesk_settings,
+                "HELPDESK_PRIVATE_FOLLOWUP_MEANS_NO_EMAILS",
+                original_setting,
+            )
+            setattr(
+                helpdesk_settings,
+                "HELPDESK_NOTIFY_SUBMITTER_FOR_ALL_TICKET_CHANGES",
+                original_notify_all,
+            )
+
+    def test_private_followup_no_emails_setting_enabled(self):
+        """Test that private follow-ups don't send emails when HELPDESK_PRIVATE_FOLLOWUP_MEANS_NO_EMAILS is True."""
+        # Enable the setting
+        original_setting = getattr(
+            helpdesk_settings, "HELPDESK_PRIVATE_FOLLOWUP_MEANS_NO_EMAILS", False
+        )
+        setattr(helpdesk_settings, "HELPDESK_PRIVATE_FOLLOWUP_MEANS_NO_EMAILS", True)
+
+        try:
+            self.outbox.clear()  # Clear any existing emails
+            update_ticket(
+                user=self.update_user,
+                ticket=self.existing_ticket,
+                comment="This is a private comment",
+                public=False,  # Private followup
+            )
+
+            email_cnt = len(self.outbox)
+            self.assertEqual(
+                email_cnt,
+                0,
+                f"Expected 0 email notifications for private followup when setting is enabled. {email_cnt} were sent.",
+            )
+        finally:
+            # Restore original setting
+            setattr(
+                helpdesk_settings,
+                "HELPDESK_PRIVATE_FOLLOWUP_MEANS_NO_EMAILS",
+                original_setting,
+            )
+
+    def test_private_followup_setting_does_not_affect_public_followups(self):
+        """Test that public follow-ups still send emails when HELPDESK_PRIVATE_FOLLOWUP_MEANS_NO_EMAILS is True."""
+        # Enable the setting
+        original_setting = getattr(
+            helpdesk_settings, "HELPDESK_PRIVATE_FOLLOWUP_MEANS_NO_EMAILS", False
+        )
+        setattr(helpdesk_settings, "HELPDESK_PRIVATE_FOLLOWUP_MEANS_NO_EMAILS", True)
+
+        try:
+            self.outbox.clear()  # Clear any existing emails
+            update_ticket(
+                user=self.update_user,
+                ticket=self.existing_ticket,
+                comment="This is a public comment",
+                public=True,  # Public followup
+            )
+
+            email_cnt = len(self.outbox)
+            self.assertGreater(
+                email_cnt,
+                0,
+                "Expected email notifications for public followup even when private followup setting is enabled.",
+            )
+
+            # Verify submitter received email
+            recipient_list = [email.to[0] for email in self.outbox]
+            self.assertIn(
+                self.existing_ticket.submitter_email,
+                recipient_list,
+                "Submitter should receive email for public followup.",
+            )
+        finally:
+            # Restore original setting
+            setattr(
+                helpdesk_settings,
+                "HELPDESK_PRIVATE_FOLLOWUP_MEANS_NO_EMAILS",
+                original_setting,
+            )
+
+    def test_private_followup_setting_blocks_assigned_user_emails(self):
+        """Test that HELPDESK_PRIVATE_FOLLOWUP_MEANS_NO_EMAILS also blocks emails to assigned users."""
+        # Enable the setting and assign a user to the ticket
+        original_setting = getattr(
+            helpdesk_settings, "HELPDESK_PRIVATE_FOLLOWUP_MEANS_NO_EMAILS", False
+        )
+        setattr(helpdesk_settings, "HELPDESK_PRIVATE_FOLLOWUP_MEANS_NO_EMAILS", True)
+
+        try:
+            # Assign ticket to a user first
+            update_ticket(
+                user=self.update_user,
+                ticket=self.existing_ticket,
+                owner=self.assigned_user.id,
+                public=True,
+            )
+            self.outbox.clear()  # Clear assignment emails
+
+            # Now make a private comment - normally this would email the assigned user
+            update_ticket(
+                user=self.update_user,
+                ticket=self.existing_ticket,
+                comment="This is a private comment for assigned user",
+                public=False,  # Private followup
+            )
+
+            email_cnt = len(self.outbox)
+            self.assertEqual(
+                email_cnt,
+                0,
+                f"Expected 0 email notifications for private followup when setting is enabled. {email_cnt} were sent.",
+            )
+        finally:
+            # Restore original setting
+            setattr(
+                helpdesk_settings,
+                "HELPDESK_PRIVATE_FOLLOWUP_MEANS_NO_EMAILS",
+                original_setting,
+            )
+
+    def test_private_followup_setting_blocks_notify_all_submitter_emails(self):
+        """Test that HELPDESK_PRIVATE_FOLLOWUP_MEANS_NO_EMAILS blocks emails when NOTIFY_SUBMITTER_FOR_ALL_TICKET_CHANGES is True."""
+        # Enable both settings
+        original_setting = getattr(
+            helpdesk_settings, "HELPDESK_PRIVATE_FOLLOWUP_MEANS_NO_EMAILS", False
+        )
+        original_notify_all = getattr(
+            helpdesk_settings, "HELPDESK_NOTIFY_SUBMITTER_FOR_ALL_TICKET_CHANGES", False
+        )
+        setattr(helpdesk_settings, "HELPDESK_PRIVATE_FOLLOWUP_MEANS_NO_EMAILS", True)
+        setattr(
+            helpdesk_settings, "HELPDESK_NOTIFY_SUBMITTER_FOR_ALL_TICKET_CHANGES", True
+        )
+
+        try:
+            self.outbox.clear()  # Clear any existing emails
+            update_ticket(
+                user=self.update_user,
+                ticket=self.existing_ticket,
+                comment="This is a private comment",
+                public=False,  # Private followup
+            )
+
+            email_cnt = len(self.outbox)
+            # Even though NOTIFY_SUBMITTER_FOR_ALL_TICKET_CHANGES is True,
+            # HELPDESK_PRIVATE_FOLLOWUP_MEANS_NO_EMAILS should override it
+            self.assertEqual(
+                email_cnt,
+                0,
+                f"Expected 0 email notifications for private followup when setting is enabled, even with notify all enabled. {email_cnt} were sent.",
+            )
+        finally:
+            # Restore original settings
+            setattr(
+                helpdesk_settings,
+                "HELPDESK_PRIVATE_FOLLOWUP_MEANS_NO_EMAILS",
+                original_setting,
+            )
+            setattr(
+                helpdesk_settings,
+                "HELPDESK_NOTIFY_SUBMITTER_FOR_ALL_TICKET_CHANGES",
+                original_notify_all,
+            )
+
+    def test_private_followup_setting_blocks_cc_user_emails(self):
+        """Test that HELPDESK_PRIVATE_FOLLOWUP_MEANS_NO_EMAILS also blocks emails to CC'd users."""
+        from helpdesk.update_ticket import subscribe_to_ticket_updates
+
+        # Enable the setting
+        original_setting = getattr(
+            helpdesk_settings, "HELPDESK_PRIVATE_FOLLOWUP_MEANS_NO_EMAILS", False
+        )
+        setattr(helpdesk_settings, "HELPDESK_PRIVATE_FOLLOWUP_MEANS_NO_EMAILS", True)
+
+        try:
+            # Add a CC user to the ticket
+            cc_user = User.objects.create(
+                username="cc_user",
+                email="cc@djangohelpdesk.com",
+            )
+            subscribe_to_ticket_updates(
+                ticket=self.existing_ticket, user_id=cc_user.id, can_view=True
+            )
+
+            self.outbox.clear()  # Clear any existing emails
+
+            # Make a private comment - normally this would email CC'd users
+            update_ticket(
+                user=self.update_user,
+                ticket=self.existing_ticket,
+                comment="This is a private comment that CC users should not see",
+                public=False,  # Private followup
+            )
+
+            email_cnt = len(self.outbox)
+            self.assertEqual(
+                email_cnt,
+                0,
+                f"Expected 0 email notifications for private followup when setting is enabled (including CC users). {email_cnt} were sent.",
+            )
+        finally:
+            # Restore original setting
+            setattr(
+                helpdesk_settings,
+                "HELPDESK_PRIVATE_FOLLOWUP_MEANS_NO_EMAILS",
+                original_setting,
+            )
diff --git a/helpdesk/update_ticket.py b/helpdesk/update_ticket.py
index 626a50e8..8c711743 100644
--- a/helpdesk/update_ticket.py
+++ b/helpdesk/update_ticket.py
@@ -137,6 +137,10 @@ def process_email_notifications_for_ticket_update(
     """
     Sends email notifications when the ticket is updated in any way.
     """
+    # If the setting is enabled and this is a private follow-up, skip all email notifications
+    if helpdesk_settings.HELPDESK_PRIVATE_FOLLOWUP_MEANS_NO_EMAILS and not public:
+        return
+
     template_prefix = get_email_template_prefix(reassigned, follow_up)
     if helpdesk_settings.HELPDESK_NOTIFY_SUBMITTER_FOR_ALL_TICKET_CHANGES or (
         public