diff --git a/SETTINGS.md b/SETTINGS.md
index e173c3c..281529d 100644
--- a/SETTINGS.md
+++ b/SETTINGS.md
@@ -178,7 +178,6 @@ Configure the quote management system.
 | `quotes.enabled` | `false` | Enable/disable the quote system |
 | `quotes.channel_id` | `""` | Channel ID for quote messages (empty = use command channel) |
 | `quotes.cooldown` | `60` | Seconds between quote additions (per user) |
-| `quotes.cleanup_interval` | `5` | Minutes between cleanup of unauthorized quote messages |
 | `quotes.max_length` | `1000` | Maximum character length for quotes |
 | `quotes.add_roles` | `""` | Role IDs allowed to add quotes (comma-separated, empty = all) |
 | `quotes.delete_roles` | `""` | Role IDs allowed to delete quotes (comma-separated, empty = admins only) |
@@ -190,8 +189,6 @@ Configure the quote management system.
 
 - `quotes.channel_id` — If set, all quotes are posted to this channel.
   If empty, quotes post in the channel where the command was used.
-- `quotes.cleanup_interval` — Controls how often unauthorized messages
-  in the quote channel are removed.
 - `quotes.header_enabled` — Displays a pinned informational header.
   Auto-recreated if deleted.
 - `quotes.header_pin_enabled` — Controls whether the header is pinned.
@@ -210,7 +207,6 @@ the channel itself.
 | --- | --- | --- |
 | `notices.enabled` | `false` | Enable/disable the notices system |
 | `notices.channel_id` | `""` | Channel ID for notice messages |
-| `notices.cleanup_interval` | `5` | Minutes between cleanup of unauthorized messages |
 | `notices.header_enabled` | `true` | Show informational header post in notices channel |
 | `notices.header_pin_enabled` | `true` | Pin the header post for easy access |
 | `notices.header_message_id` | `""` | Stores header message ID (managed automatically) |
@@ -312,19 +308,6 @@ Dynamic voice channel creation and management.
 | `voicechannels.channel.prefix` | `"🎮"` | Prefix for user-created channels |
 | `voicechannels.channel.suffix` | `""` | Suffix for user-created channels |
 | `voicechannels.controlpanel.enabled` | `true` | Show interactive control panel in channel text chat |
-| `voicechannels.ownership.grace_period_seconds` | `30` | Grace period before transferring ownership when owner disconnects |
-
-### Ownership grace period
-
-When a channel owner disconnects (e.g., network issue, client restart),
-the bot waits for the grace period before transferring ownership. If
-the owner rejoins within this time, they retain ownership.
-
-**Recommended values:**
-
-- `30` (default) — Good balance for most servers
-- `60` — Servers with frequent connection issues
-- `10` — For faster ownership transfers
 
 ### Manual cleanup
 
@@ -747,7 +730,7 @@ The Web UI form controls map to the underlying schema types:
 This is a selected subset — the authoritative list of every key (with
 defaults and metadata) lives in `src/services/config-schema.ts`. Notable
 keys that may be missing from this summary include the `help.*` toggle,
-`voicechannels.presets.*`, `quotes.cleanup_interval`, the
+`voicechannels.presets.*`, the
 `*.header_message_id` storage slots managed by the bot, and the
 `leaderboard_roles.*` family (covered in [its own section](#-leaderboard-role-rewards)
 above).
@@ -778,7 +761,6 @@ above).
 
 - `quotes.channel_id` (string, default: "")
 - `quotes.cooldown` (number, default: 60)
-- `quotes.cleanup_interval` (number, default: 5)
 - `quotes.max_length` (number, default: 1000)
 - `quotes.add_roles` (string, default: "")
 - `quotes.delete_roles` (string, default: "")
@@ -789,7 +771,6 @@ above).
 
 - `notices.enabled` (bool, default: false)
 - `notices.channel_id` (string, default: "")
-- `notices.cleanup_interval` (number, default: 5)
 - `notices.header_enabled` (bool, default: true)
 - `notices.header_pin_enabled` (bool, default: true)
 
@@ -808,7 +789,6 @@ above).
 - `voicechannels.channel.prefix` (string, default: "🎮")
 - `voicechannels.channel.suffix` (string, default: "")
 - `voicechannels.controlpanel.enabled` (bool, default: true)
-- `voicechannels.ownership.grace_period_seconds` (number, default: 30)
 
 #### Voice Tracking
 
diff --git a/src/services/config-schema.ts b/src/services/config-schema.ts
index 64dfcd4..b4000d9 100644
--- a/src/services/config-schema.ts
+++ b/src/services/config-schema.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ export interface ConfigSchema {
   "voicechannels.channel.prefix": string;
   "voicechannels.channel.suffix": string;
   "voicechannels.controlpanel.enabled": boolean;
-  "voicechannels.ownership.grace_period_seconds": number;
   "voicechannels.presets.enabled": boolean;
   "voicechannels.presets.max_per_user": number;
 
@@ -37,7 +36,6 @@ export interface ConfigSchema {
   "quotes.delete_roles": string; // Comma-separated role IDs
   "quotes.max_length": number; // Maximum quote length
   "quotes.cooldown": number; // Cooldown in seconds between quote additions
-  "quotes.cleanup_interval": number; // Cleanup interval in minutes (default: 5)
   "quotes.header_enabled": boolean; // Enable header post in quote channel
   "quotes.header_message_id": string; // Message ID of the header post
   "quotes.header_pin_enabled": boolean; // Pin the header post
@@ -69,7 +67,6 @@ export interface ConfigSchema {
   // Notices System
   "notices.enabled": boolean;
   "notices.channel_id": string; // Channel ID for notice messages
-  "notices.cleanup_interval": number; // Cleanup interval in minutes
   "notices.header_enabled": boolean; // Enable header post in notices channel
   "notices.header_message_id": string; // Message ID of the header post
   "notices.header_pin_enabled": boolean; // Pin the header post
@@ -96,7 +93,6 @@ export const defaultConfig: ConfigSchema = {
   "voicechannels.channel.prefix": "🎮",
   "voicechannels.channel.suffix": "",
   "voicechannels.controlpanel.enabled": true,
-  "voicechannels.ownership.grace_period_seconds": 30,
   "voicechannels.presets.enabled": false,
   "voicechannels.presets.max_per_user": 3,
 
@@ -126,7 +122,6 @@ export const defaultConfig: ConfigSchema = {
   "quotes.delete_roles": "", // Empty means only admins can delete
   "quotes.max_length": 1000,
   "quotes.cooldown": 60,
-  "quotes.cleanup_interval": 5, // Clean up unauthorized messages every 5 minutes
   "quotes.header_enabled": true, // Enable informational header post
   "quotes.header_message_id": "", // Stores header message ID
   "quotes.header_pin_enabled": true, // Pin header for easy access
@@ -157,7 +152,6 @@ export const defaultConfig: ConfigSchema = {
   // Notices System defaults
   "notices.enabled": false,
   "notices.channel_id": "",
-  "notices.cleanup_interval": 5, // Clean up unauthorized messages every 5 minutes
   "notices.header_enabled": true, // Enable informational header post
   "notices.header_message_id": "", // Stores header message ID
   "notices.header_pin_enabled": true, // Pin header for easy access
@@ -347,13 +341,6 @@ export const settingsMetadata: Record<keyof ConfigSchema, SettingMetadata> = {
     category: "voicechannels",
     type: "boolean",
   },
-  "voicechannels.ownership.grace_period_seconds": {
-    label: "Ownership transfer grace period (seconds)",
-    description:
-      "Seconds to wait before transferring ownership when the channel owner leaves.",
-    category: "voicechannels",
-    type: "number",
-  },
   "voicechannels.presets.enabled": {
     label: "Per-user channel presets enabled",
     description:
@@ -493,13 +480,6 @@ export const settingsMetadata: Record<keyof ConfigSchema, SettingMetadata> = {
     category: "quotes",
     type: "number",
   },
-  "quotes.cleanup_interval": {
-    label: "Channel cleanup interval (minutes)",
-    description:
-      "Interval in minutes between sweeps for unauthorised messages in the quote channel.",
-    category: "quotes",
-    type: "number",
-  },
   "quotes.header_enabled": {
     label: "Pinned header post enabled",
     description:
@@ -617,13 +597,6 @@ export const settingsMetadata: Record<keyof ConfigSchema, SettingMetadata> = {
     category: "notices",
     type: "channel",
   },
-  "notices.cleanup_interval": {
-    label: "Channel cleanup interval (minutes)",
-    description:
-      "Interval in minutes between sweeps for unauthorised messages in the notices channel.",
-    category: "notices",
-    type: "number",
-  },
   "notices.header_enabled": {
     label: "Pinned header post enabled",
     description:
diff --git a/src/services/notices-channel-manager.ts b/src/services/notices-channel-manager.ts
index 18ec6c1..6d543c7 100644
--- a/src/services/notices-channel-manager.ts
+++ b/src/services/notices-channel-manager.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,12 @@ import logger from "../utils/logger.js";
 import Notice, { INotice } from "../models/notice.js";
 import { NOTICE_CATEGORIES } from "../content/notice-categories.js";
 
+// Internal sweep interval for purging unauthorised messages from the
+// notices channel. Demoted from `notices.cleanup_interval` config key in
+// #442 — operators never tuned it; the cadence is an implementation
+// detail of the channel-cleanup loop.
+const CLEANUP_INTERVAL_MINUTES = 5;
+
 export class NoticesChannelManager {
   private static instance: NoticesChannelManager;
   private client: Client;
@@ -394,14 +400,8 @@ export class NoticesChannelManager {
   }
 
   private async startCleanupJob(): Promise<void> {
-    // Get cleanup interval from config (in minutes)
-    const intervalMinutes = await this.configService.getNumber(
-      "notices.cleanup_interval",
-      5,
-    );
-
     // Convert to cron expression (*/N * * * * means every N minutes)
-    const cronExpression = `*/${intervalMinutes} * * * *`;
+    const cronExpression = `*/${CLEANUP_INTERVAL_MINUTES} * * * *`;
 
     this.cleanupJob = new CronJob(
       cronExpression,
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ export class NoticesChannelManager {
     );
 
     logger.info(
-      `Started notices channel cleanup job (every ${intervalMinutes} minutes)`,
+      `Started notices channel cleanup job (every ${CLEANUP_INTERVAL_MINUTES} minutes)`,
     );
   }
 
diff --git a/src/services/quote-channel-manager.ts b/src/services/quote-channel-manager.ts
index 0111451..45b9493 100644
--- a/src/services/quote-channel-manager.ts
+++ b/src/services/quote-channel-manager.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,12 @@ import { ConfigService } from "./config-service.js";
 import logger from "../utils/logger.js";
 import { quoteService } from "./quote-service.js";
 
+// Internal sweep interval for purging unauthorised messages from the
+// quote channel. Demoted from `quotes.cleanup_interval` config key in
+// #442 — operators never tuned it; the cadence is an implementation
+// detail of the channel-cleanup loop.
+const CLEANUP_INTERVAL_MINUTES = 5;
+
 /**
  * Normalize a Discord user ID from various formats to a clean numeric ID
  * Handles: <@123>, <@!123>, @username, or plain 123
@@ -375,14 +381,8 @@ export class QuoteChannelManager {
       logger.debug("Stopped existing cleanup job before starting new one");
     }
 
-    // Get cleanup interval from config (in minutes)
-    const intervalMinutes = await this.configService.getNumber(
-      "quotes.cleanup_interval",
-      5,
-    );
-
     // Convert to cron expression (*/N * * * * means every N minutes)
-    const cronExpression = `*/${intervalMinutes} * * * *`;
+    const cronExpression = `*/${CLEANUP_INTERVAL_MINUTES} * * * *`;
 
     this.cleanupJob = new CronJob(
       cronExpression,
@@ -395,7 +395,7 @@ export class QuoteChannelManager {
     );
 
     logger.info(
-      `Started quote channel cleanup job (every ${intervalMinutes} minutes)`,
+      `Started quote channel cleanup job (every ${CLEANUP_INTERVAL_MINUTES} minutes)`,
     );
   }
 
diff --git a/src/services/voice-channel-manager.ts b/src/services/voice-channel-manager.ts
index 54a9f08..8592ea3 100644
--- a/src/services/voice-channel-manager.ts
+++ b/src/services/voice-channel-manager.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,12 @@ const configService = ConfigService.getInstance();
 // leaving stale entries behind (issue #404, follow-up to #339).
 const UNKNOWN_CHANNEL_ERROR_CODE = 10003;
 
+// Seconds to wait before transferring ownership when the channel owner
+// leaves. Demoted from `voicechannels.ownership.grace_period_seconds`
+// config key in #442 — operators never tuned it; it's an internal pacing
+// constant for the ownership-handoff state machine.
+const OWNERSHIP_TRANSFER_GRACE_SECONDS = 30;
+
 function isUnknownChannelError(error: unknown): boolean {
   return (
     error instanceof DiscordAPIError &&
@@ -432,12 +438,6 @@ export class VoiceChannelManager {
         return;
       }
 
-      // Get grace period from config
-      const gracePeriodSeconds = await this.configService.getNumber(
-        "voicechannels.ownership.grace_period_seconds",
-        30,
-      );
-
       // Check if there's already a pending ownership transfer for this channel
       if (this.ownershipTransferTimers.has(channel.id)) {
         logger.info(
@@ -447,7 +447,7 @@ export class VoiceChannelManager {
       }
 
       logger.info(
-        `Owner ${currentOwnerId} left channel ${channel.name}. Scheduling ownership transfer in ${gracePeriodSeconds} seconds...`,
+        `Owner ${currentOwnerId} left channel ${channel.name}. Scheduling ownership transfer in ${OWNERSHIP_TRANSFER_GRACE_SECONDS} seconds...`,
       );
 
       // Schedule ownership transfer after grace period
@@ -516,7 +516,7 @@ export class VoiceChannelManager {
           logger.error("Error during scheduled ownership transfer:", error);
           this.ownershipTransferTimers.delete(channel.id);
         }
-      }, gracePeriodSeconds * 1000);
+      }, OWNERSHIP_TRANSFER_GRACE_SECONDS * 1000);
 
       // Store the timer and original owner info
       this.ownershipTransferTimers.set(channel.id, {