diff --git a/jupyterhub/alembic.ini b/jupyterhub/alembic.ini
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a7354c41
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jupyterhub/alembic.ini
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+# A generic, single database configuration.
+
+[alembic]
+script_location = {alembic_dir}
+sqlalchemy.url = {db_url}
+
+# template used to generate migration files
+# file_template = %%(rev)s_%%(slug)s
+
+# max length of characters to apply to the
+# "slug" field
+#truncate_slug_length = 40
+
+# set to 'true' to run the environment during
+# the 'revision' command, regardless of autogenerate
+# revision_environment = false
+
+# set to 'true' to allow .pyc and .pyo files without
+# a source .py file to be detected as revisions in the
+# versions/ directory
+# sourceless = false
+
+# version location specification; this defaults
+# to jupyterhub/alembic/versions.  When using multiple version
+# directories, initial revisions must be specified with --version-path
+# version_locations = %(here)s/bar %(here)s/bat jupyterhub/alembic/versions
+
+# the output encoding used when revision files
+# are written from script.py.mako
+# output_encoding = utf-8
+
+
+# Logging configuration
+[loggers]
+keys = root,sqlalchemy,alembic
+
+[handlers]
+keys = console
+
+[formatters]
+keys = generic
+
+[logger_root]
+level = WARN
+handlers = console
+qualname =
+
+[logger_sqlalchemy]
+level = WARN
+handlers =
+qualname = sqlalchemy.engine
+
+[logger_alembic]
+level = INFO
+handlers =
+qualname = alembic
+
+[handler_console]
+class = StreamHandler
+args = (sys.stderr,)
+level = NOTSET
+formatter = generic
+
+[formatter_generic]
+format = %(levelname)-5.5s [%(name)s] %(message)s
+datefmt = %H:%M:%S
diff --git a/jupyterhub/alembic/README b/jupyterhub/alembic/README
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6c9b8092
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jupyterhub/alembic/README
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+This is the alembic configuration for JupyterHub data base migrations.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/jupyterhub/alembic/env.py b/jupyterhub/alembic/env.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..058378b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jupyterhub/alembic/env.py
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+from __future__ import with_statement
+from alembic import context
+from sqlalchemy import engine_from_config, pool
+from logging.config import fileConfig
+
+# this is the Alembic Config object, which provides
+# access to the values within the .ini file in use.
+config = context.config
+
+# Interpret the config file for Python logging.
+# This line sets up loggers basically.
+fileConfig(config.config_file_name)
+
+# add your model's MetaData object here
+# for 'autogenerate' support
+# from myapp import mymodel
+# target_metadata = mymodel.Base.metadata
+target_metadata = None
+
+# other values from the config, defined by the needs of env.py,
+# can be acquired:
+# my_important_option = config.get_main_option("my_important_option")
+# ... etc.
+
+
+def run_migrations_offline():
+    """Run migrations in 'offline' mode.
+
+    This configures the context with just a URL
+    and not an Engine, though an Engine is acceptable
+    here as well.  By skipping the Engine creation
+    we don't even need a DBAPI to be available.
+
+    Calls to context.execute() here emit the given string to the
+    script output.
+
+    """
+    url = config.get_main_option("sqlalchemy.url")
+    context.configure(
+        url=url, target_metadata=target_metadata, literal_binds=True)
+
+    with context.begin_transaction():
+        context.run_migrations()
+
+
+def run_migrations_online():
+    """Run migrations in 'online' mode.
+
+    In this scenario we need to create an Engine
+    and associate a connection with the context.
+
+    """
+    connectable = engine_from_config(
+        config.get_section(config.config_ini_section),
+        prefix='sqlalchemy.',
+        poolclass=pool.NullPool)
+
+    with connectable.connect() as connection:
+        context.configure(
+            connection=connection,
+            target_metadata=target_metadata
+        )
+
+        with context.begin_transaction():
+            context.run_migrations()
+
+if context.is_offline_mode():
+    run_migrations_offline()
+else:
+    run_migrations_online()
diff --git a/jupyterhub/alembic/script.py.mako b/jupyterhub/alembic/script.py.mako
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..43c09401
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jupyterhub/alembic/script.py.mako
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+"""${message}
+
+Revision ID: ${up_revision}
+Revises: ${down_revision | comma,n}
+Create Date: ${create_date}
+
+"""
+
+# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
+revision = ${repr(up_revision)}
+down_revision = ${repr(down_revision)}
+branch_labels = ${repr(branch_labels)}
+depends_on = ${repr(depends_on)}
+
+from alembic import op
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+${imports if imports else ""}
+
+def upgrade():
+    ${upgrades if upgrades else "pass"}
+
+
+def downgrade():
+    ${downgrades if downgrades else "pass"}
diff --git a/jupyterhub/alembic/versions/19c0846f6344_base_revision_for_0_5.py b/jupyterhub/alembic/versions/19c0846f6344_base_revision_for_0_5.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cdc02ce0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jupyterhub/alembic/versions/19c0846f6344_base_revision_for_0_5.py
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+"""base revision for 0.5
+
+Revision ID: 19c0846f6344
+Revises: 
+Create Date: 2016-04-11 16:05:34.873288
+
+"""
+
+# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
+revision = '19c0846f6344'
+down_revision = None
+branch_labels = None
+depends_on = None
+
+from alembic import op
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+
+
+def upgrade():
+    pass
+
+
+def downgrade():
+    pass