diff --git a/build/code_sniffer/phpbb/Sniffs/ControlStructures/StaticKeywordSniff.php b/build/code_sniffer/phpbb/Sniffs/ControlStructures/StaticKeywordSniff.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1dabe82235
--- /dev/null
+++ b/build/code_sniffer/phpbb/Sniffs/ControlStructures/StaticKeywordSniff.php
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+<?php
+/**
+ *
+ * This file is part of the phpBB Forum Software package.
+ *
+ * @copyright (c) phpBB Limited <https://www.phpbb.com>
+ * @license GNU General Public License, version 2 (GPL-2.0)
+ *
+ * For full copyright and license information, please see
+ * the docs/CREDITS.txt file.
+ *
+ */
+
+use PHP_CodeSniffer\Files\File;
+use PHP_CodeSniffer\Sniffs\Sniff;
+
+/**
+ * Checks that the visibility qualifiers are placed after the static keyword
+ * according to the coding guidelines
+ */
+class phpbb_Sniffs_ControlStructures_StaticKeywordSniff implements Sniff
+{
+	/**
+	 * Registers the tokens that this sniff wants to listen for.
+	 */
+	public function register()
+	{
+		return [
+			T_STATIC,
+		];
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Processes this test, when one of its tokens is encountered.
+	 *
+	 * @param File $phpcsFile The file being scanned.
+	 * @param int $stackPtr  The position of the current token in the stack passed in $tokens.
+	 *
+	 * @return void
+	 */
+	public function process(File $phpcsFile, $stackPtr)
+	{
+		$tokens = $phpcsFile->getTokens();
+
+		$disallowed_before_tokens = [
+			T_PUBLIC,
+			T_PROTECTED,
+			T_PRIVATE,
+		];
+
+		if (in_array($tokens[$stackPtr - 2]['code'], $disallowed_before_tokens))
+		{
+			$error = 'Access specifier (e.g. public) should follow static scope attribute. Encountered "' . $tokens[$stackPtr - 2]['content'] . '" before static';
+			$phpcsFile->addError($error, $stackPtr, 'InvalidStaticFunctionDeclaration');
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/build/code_sniffer/ruleset-php-legacy.xml b/build/code_sniffer/ruleset-php-legacy.xml
index c740c6080f..47d0ca772a 100644
--- a/build/code_sniffer/ruleset-php-legacy.xml
+++ b/build/code_sniffer/ruleset-php-legacy.xml
@@ -89,4 +89,7 @@
  <!-- There MUST be one space between control structure and opening parenthesis -->
  <rule ref="./phpbb/Sniffs/ControlStructures/OpeningParenthesisSniff.php" />
 
+ <!-- Static qualifier MUST be placed before the visibility qualifiers. -->
+ <rule ref="./phpbb/Sniffs/ControlStructures/StaticKeywordSniff.php" />
+
 </ruleset>