diff --git a/Essentials/src/main/resources/messages.properties b/Essentials/src/main/resources/messages.properties
index 516f78ed0..98ff5e7d8 100644
--- a/Essentials/src/main/resources/messages.properties
+++ b/Essentials/src/main/resources/messages.properties
@@ -833,8 +833,9 @@ noPlacePermission=\u00a74You do not have permission to place a block near that s
 noPotionEffectPerm=\u00a74You do not have permission to apply potion effect \u00a7c{0} \u00a74to this potion.
 noPowerTools=\u00a76You have no power tools assigned.
 notAcceptingPay=\u00a74{0} \u00a74is not accepting payment.
-notAllowedToQuestion=\u00a74You are not authorized to use question.
-notAllowedToShout=\u00a74You are not authorized to shout.
+notAllowedToLocal=\u00a74You don't have permission to speak in local chat.
+notAllowedToQuestion=\u00a74You don't have permission to use question.
+notAllowedToShout=\u00a74You don't have permission to shout.
 notEnoughExperience=\u00a74You do not have enough experience.
 notEnoughMoney=\u00a74You do not have sufficient funds.
 notFlying=not flying
diff --git a/EssentialsChat/src/main/java/com/earth2me/essentials/chat/EssentialsChatPlayerListenerNormal.java b/EssentialsChat/src/main/java/com/earth2me/essentials/chat/EssentialsChatPlayerListenerNormal.java
index 1adbf2438..fc77e2341 100644
--- a/EssentialsChat/src/main/java/com/earth2me/essentials/chat/EssentialsChatPlayerListenerNormal.java
+++ b/EssentialsChat/src/main/java/com/earth2me/essentials/chat/EssentialsChatPlayerListenerNormal.java
@@ -43,21 +43,29 @@ public class EssentialsChatPlayerListenerNormal extends EssentialsChatPlayer {
         final User user = chatStore.getUser();
         chatStore.setRadius(radius);
 
-        if (event.getMessage().length() > 1 && chatStore.getType().length() > 0) {
-            final StringBuilder permission = new StringBuilder();
-            permission.append("essentials.chat.").append(chatStore.getType());
-
-            if (user.isAuthorized(permission.toString())) {
-                if (event.getMessage().charAt(0) == ess.getSettings().getChatShout() || event.getMessage().charAt(0) == ess.getSettings().getChatQuestion()) {
-                    event.setMessage(event.getMessage().substring(1));
+        if (event.getMessage().length() > 1) {
+            if (chatStore.getType().isEmpty()) {
+                if (!user.isAuthorized("essentials.chat.local")) {
+                    user.sendMessage(tl("notAllowedToLocal"));
+                    event.setCancelled(true);
+                    return;
                 }
-                event.setFormat(tl(chatStore.getType() + "Format", event.getFormat()));
+            } else {
+                final StringBuilder permission = new StringBuilder();
+                permission.append("essentials.chat.").append(chatStore.getType());
+
+                if (user.isAuthorized(permission.toString())) {
+                    if (event.getMessage().charAt(0) == ess.getSettings().getChatShout() || event.getMessage().charAt(0) == ess.getSettings().getChatQuestion()) {
+                        event.setMessage(event.getMessage().substring(1));
+                    }
+                    event.setFormat(tl(chatStore.getType() + "Format", event.getFormat()));
+                    return;
+                }
+
+                user.sendMessage(tl("notAllowedTo" + chatStore.getType().substring(0, 1).toUpperCase(Locale.ENGLISH) + chatStore.getType().substring(1)));
+                event.setCancelled(true);
                 return;
             }
-
-            user.sendMessage(tl("notAllowedTo" + chatStore.getType().substring(0, 1).toUpperCase(Locale.ENGLISH) + chatStore.getType().substring(1)));
-            event.setCancelled(true);
-            return;
         }
 
         final Location loc = user.getLocation();
diff --git a/EssentialsChat/src/main/resources/plugin.yml b/EssentialsChat/src/main/resources/plugin.yml
index 68ba61920..632644568 100644
--- a/EssentialsChat/src/main/resources/plugin.yml
+++ b/EssentialsChat/src/main/resources/plugin.yml
@@ -13,3 +13,6 @@ commands:
     description: Toggles whether you are talking in shout mode
     usage: /<command> [player] [on|off]
     aliases: [etoggleshout]
+permissions:
+  essentials.chat.local:
+    default: true