diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 3f37d6c..6c99f8a 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 .gradle/
+.docker/
 build/
 out/
 .idea/
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index cf05a42..7ac7afa 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -17,6 +17,40 @@ The approved behavior and implementation record are in the [OKF design bundle](d
 
 The plugin JAR is written to `build/libs/`.
 
+## Local Docker test server
+
+Build the current plugin and start it on an isolated Spigot 26.2 server:
+
+```bash
+./scripts/start-test-server.sh
+```
+
+Connect to `localhost:25565` as `WindMagi`, which the harness configures as an operator. The server uses offline mode for local convenience and binds only to the loopback interface.
+
+The first startup may take several minutes while the image downloads and Spigot is prepared. Override the 15-minute wait or local RCON password when needed:
+
+```bash
+TREE_FELLER_START_TIMEOUT=1200 \
+TREE_FELLER_RCON_PASSWORD='local-secret' \
+./scripts/start-test-server.sh
+```
+
+Common lifecycle commands:
+
+```bash
+# Follow server logs
+docker compose -f compose.test.yml logs -f minecraft
+
+# Stop while preserving the world and server configuration
+docker compose -f compose.test.yml down
+
+# Stop and permanently reset all generated local test state
+docker compose -f compose.test.yml down
+rm -rf .docker/minecraft
+```
+
+Re-run the start script after code changes to rebuild the JAR and recreate the test container. Generated server state remains under `.docker/minecraft/` and is ignored by Git.
+
 ## Player commands
 
 ```text
diff --git a/compose.test.yml b/compose.test.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4e1b42f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/compose.test.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+name: tree-feller-test
+
+services:
+  minecraft:
+    image: itzg/minecraft-server:java25
+    container_name: tree-feller-test
+    ports:
+      - "127.0.0.1:25565:25565"
+    environment:
+      EULA: "TRUE"
+      TYPE: SPIGOT
+      VERSION: "26.2"
+      MEMORY: 2G
+      OPS: WindMagi
+      ONLINE_MODE: "false"
+      ENABLE_RCON: "true"
+      RCON_PASSWORD: "${TREE_FELLER_RCON_PASSWORD:-tree-feller-local-test}"
+      VIEW_DISTANCE: "6"
+      SIMULATION_DISTANCE: "6"
+      SPAWN_PROTECTION: "0"
+    volumes:
+      - ./.docker/minecraft:/data
+      - ./build/libs/tree-feller-0.1.0-SNAPSHOT.jar:/plugins/TreeFeller.jar:ro
+    healthcheck:
+      test: ["CMD", "mc-health"]
+      start_period: 15m
+      interval: 10s
+      timeout: 5s
+      retries: 90
+    restart: "no"
+    stdin_open: true
+    tty: true
diff --git a/design/log.md b/design/log.md
index 35a2194..37bad1e 100644
--- a/design/log.md
+++ b/design/log.md
@@ -2,6 +2,14 @@
 
 ## 2026-08-11
 
+### US-010 local Docker test server completed
+
+- Added a repository-local Docker Compose harness using `itzg/minecraft-server:java25` with Spigot 26.2, persistent ignored state, offline local testing, and loopback-only port binding.
+- Added one executable script that runs the strict Gradle build, recreates the isolated container with the latest JAR, waits for health, verifies Tree Feller through RCON, and confirms `WindMagi` as an operator.
+- Documented start, log, stop, persistent-state reset, timeout, and RCON-password controls.
+- Live verification completed in 23 seconds: the container was healthy, RCON reported `TreeFeller`, `ops.json` contained `WindMagi` at level 4, and port 25565 was bound only to `127.0.0.1`.
+- The test server remains running at `localhost:25565` for gameplay testing.
+
 ### US-009 build and release completed
 
 - Added maintainer documentation for requirements, builds, commands, configuration, supported species, persistence, safety, compatibility, and releases.
diff --git a/design/user-stories/index.md b/design/user-stories/index.md
index 1c49f41..bd0dff0 100644
--- a/design/user-stories/index.md
+++ b/design/user-stories/index.md
@@ -9,3 +9,4 @@
 7. [US-007: Administer Tree Feller](us-007-administer-tree-feller.md)
 8. [US-008: Configure and persist Tree Feller](us-008-configure-and-persist-tree-feller.md)
 9. [US-009: Build and release Tree Feller](us-009-build-and-release-tree-feller.md)
+10. [US-010: Run a local Docker test server](us-010-run-local-docker-test-server.md)
diff --git a/design/user-stories/us-010-run-local-docker-test-server.md b/design/user-stories/us-010-run-local-docker-test-server.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9568480
--- /dev/null
+++ b/design/user-stories/us-010-run-local-docker-test-server.md
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+---
+type: User Story
+title: "US-010: Run a local Docker test server"
+description: Provide a repeatable Docker Compose harness that builds and loads Tree Feller on an isolated Spigot 26.2 server.
+status: done
+---
+
+# US-010: Run a local Docker test server
+
+As a **plugin developer**, I want one command to run the current Tree Feller build on a local containerized server so that I can perform repeatable integration and gameplay testing.
+
+## Acceptance criteria
+
+- [x] One repository script builds and verifies the plugin before starting an isolated Spigot 26.2 server through Docker Compose.
+- [x] The current Tree Feller JAR is mounted into the server automatically whenever the container is recreated.
+- [x] `WindMagi` is configured and verified as a server operator.
+- [x] The Minecraft port binds only to `127.0.0.1:25565` by default.
+- [x] Startup waits for server health and verifies Tree Feller through RCON.
+- [x] Generated worlds, logs, configuration, and downloaded server artifacts are stored under `.docker/minecraft/` and excluded from Git.
+- [x] Stopping Compose preserves generated test state unless the operator explicitly deletes it.
+- [x] Existing unrelated containers are not modified.
+- [x] Maintainer documentation explains start, logs, stop, reset, timeout, and RCON-password controls.
+
+## Scope
+
+This harness is for local development only. It does not define production deployment, publish an image, expose Minecraft or RCON publicly, or persist its runtime state in Git.
+
+## Related
+
+- [US-003: Fell unlocked trees](us-003-fell-unlocked-trees.md)
+- [US-005: Undo the last felled tree](us-005-undo-the-last-felled-tree.md)
+- [US-009: Build and release Tree Feller](us-009-build-and-release-tree-feller.md)
+- [User-story catalog](index.md)
diff --git a/scripts/start-test-server.sh b/scripts/start-test-server.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..1f7093d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/start-test-server.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+project_root="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)"
+compose_file="$project_root/compose.test.yml"
+wait_seconds="${TREE_FELLER_START_TIMEOUT:-900}"
+
+if ! command -v docker >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  echo "Required command not found: docker" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+if ! docker info >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  echo "Docker is not running or is not accessible." >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+if ! docker compose version >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  echo "Docker Compose v2 is required." >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+cd "$project_root"
+./gradlew clean check jar
+mkdir -p .docker/minecraft
+
+# Recreate the container so the image installs the newly built read-only plugin JAR.
+docker compose -f "$compose_file" up -d --force-recreate
+container_id="$(docker compose -f "$compose_file" ps -q minecraft)"
+if [[ -z "$container_id" ]]; then
+  echo "The Tree Feller test container was not created." >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+echo "Waiting up to ${wait_seconds}s for Spigot 26.2..."
+deadline=$((SECONDS + wait_seconds))
+while (( SECONDS < deadline )); do
+  container_state="$(docker inspect --format '{{.State.Status}}' "$container_id")"
+  health_state="$(docker inspect --format '{{if .State.Health}}{{.State.Health.Status}}{{else}}{{.State.Status}}{{end}}' "$container_id")"
+  if [[ "$health_state" == "healthy" ]]; then
+    break
+  fi
+  if [[ "$container_state" == "exited" || "$container_state" == "dead" ]]; then
+    docker compose -f "$compose_file" logs --tail=150 minecraft >&2
+    echo "The Minecraft server exited during startup." >&2
+    exit 1
+  fi
+  sleep 5
+done
+
+health_state="$(docker inspect --format '{{if .State.Health}}{{.State.Health.Status}}{{else}}{{.State.Status}}{{end}}' "$container_id")"
+if [[ "$health_state" != "healthy" ]]; then
+  docker compose -f "$compose_file" logs --tail=150 minecraft >&2
+  echo "Timed out waiting for Spigot 26.2 (status: $health_state)." >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+plugins="$(docker compose -f "$compose_file" exec -T minecraft rcon-cli plugins)"
+if [[ "$plugins" != *"TreeFeller"* ]]; then
+  echo "$plugins" >&2
+  echo "TreeFeller was not reported by the running server." >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+# This is idempotent and confirms the requested local test account is an operator.
+docker compose -f "$compose_file" exec -T minecraft rcon-cli 'op WindMagi' >/dev/null
+
+cat <<'MESSAGE'
+Tree Feller test server is ready at localhost:25565.
+Operator:  WindMagi
+View logs: docker compose -f compose.test.yml logs -f minecraft
+Stop:      docker compose -f compose.test.yml down
+Reset:     docker compose -f compose.test.yml down && rm -rf .docker/minecraft
+MESSAGE