diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 519e0429cf..0417286ffd 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ Each rule has emojis denoting what configuration it belongs to and/or a :wrench:
 | :white_check_mark: | [closure-actions](./docs/rules/closure-actions.md) | enforce usage of closure actions |
 |  | [named-functions-in-promises](./docs/rules/named-functions-in-promises.md) | enforce usage of named functions in promises |
 | :white_check_mark: | [new-module-imports](./docs/rules/new-module-imports.md) | enforce using "New Module Imports" from Ember RFC #176 |
+|  | [no-controllers](./docs/rules/no-controllers.md) | disallow non-essential controllers |
 | :white_check_mark: | [no-function-prototype-extensions](./docs/rules/no-function-prototype-extensions.md) | disallow usage of Ember's `function` prototype extensions |
 | :car: | [no-get-with-default](./docs/rules/no-get-with-default.md) | disallow usage of the Ember's `getWithDefault` function |
 | :car::wrench: | [no-get](./docs/rules/no-get.md) | require using ES5 getters instead of Ember's `get` / `getProperties` functions |
diff --git a/docs/rules/no-controllers.md b/docs/rules/no-controllers.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8960b4bf41
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/rules/no-controllers.md
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+# no-controllers
+
+Some people may prefer to avoid the use of controllers in their applications, typically in favor of components which can be more portable and easier to test.
+
+This rule disallows controller usage, except when the controller is used to define `queryParams`.
+
+## Examples
+
+Examples of **incorrect** code for this rule:
+
+```js
+import Controller from '@ember/controller';
+export default class ArticlesController extends Controller {
+  // Controller disallowed since it doesn't use `queryParams`.
+  ...
+}
+```
+
+Examples of **correct** code for this rule:
+
+```js
+import Controller from '@ember/controller';
+export default class ArticlesController extends Controller {
+  queryParams = ['category']; // Controller allowed for defining `queryParams`.
+  @tracked category = null;
+  ...
+}
+```
+
+Note that this rule supports both classic and native class syntax.
+
+## Further Reading
+
+- [Guide on controllers](https://guides.emberjs.com/release/routing/controllers/)
+- [Guide on `queryParameters`](https://guides.emberjs.com/release/routing/query-params/)
diff --git a/lib/index.js b/lib/index.js
index 1f2163b2b4..dd348d6d7c 100644
--- a/lib/index.js
+++ b/lib/index.js
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ module.exports = {
     'no-classic-classes': require('./rules/no-classic-classes'),
     'no-classic-components': require('./rules/no-classic-components'),
     'no-computed-properties-in-native-classes': require('./rules/no-computed-properties-in-native-classes'),
+    'no-controllers': require('./rules/no-controllers'),
     'no-deeply-nested-dependent-keys-with-each': require('./rules/no-deeply-nested-dependent-keys-with-each'),
     'no-duplicate-dependent-keys': require('./rules/no-duplicate-dependent-keys'),
     'no-ember-super-in-es-classes': require('./rules/no-ember-super-in-es-classes'),
diff --git a/lib/recommended-rules.js b/lib/recommended-rules.js
index 5640f97752..1b71784541 100644
--- a/lib/recommended-rules.js
+++ b/lib/recommended-rules.js
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ module.exports = {
   "ember/no-classic-classes": "off",
   "ember/no-classic-components": "off",
   "ember/no-computed-properties-in-native-classes": "off",
+  "ember/no-controllers": "off",
   "ember/no-deeply-nested-dependent-keys-with-each": "error",
   "ember/no-duplicate-dependent-keys": "error",
   "ember/no-ember-super-in-es-classes": "error",
diff --git a/lib/rules/no-controllers.js b/lib/rules/no-controllers.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..638ea8abd9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/rules/no-controllers.js
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+const ember = require('../utils/ember');
+const types = require('../utils/types');
+const assert = require('assert');
+
+const ERROR_MESSAGE = 'Avoid using controllers except for specifying `queryParams`';
+
+module.exports = {
+  ERROR_MESSAGE,
+  meta: {
+    type: 'suggestion',
+    docs: {
+      description: 'disallow non-essential controllers',
+      category: 'Best Practices',
+      recommended: false,
+      url:
+        'https://github.com/ember-cli/eslint-plugin-ember/tree/master/docs/rules/no-controllers.md',
+    },
+    fixable: null,
+    schema: [],
+  },
+
+  create: context => {
+    return {
+      ClassDeclaration(node) {
+        if (
+          ember.isEmberController(context, node) &&
+          (node.body.body.length === 0 || !classDeclarationHasProperty(node, 'queryParams'))
+        ) {
+          context.report(node, ERROR_MESSAGE);
+        }
+      },
+
+      CallExpression(node) {
+        if (
+          ember.isEmberController(context, node) &&
+          (node.arguments.length === 0 || !callExpressionClassHasProperty(node, 'queryParams'))
+        ) {
+          context.report(node, ERROR_MESSAGE);
+        }
+      },
+    };
+  },
+};
+
+function classDeclarationHasProperty(classDeclaration, propertyName) {
+  assert(types.isClassDeclaration(classDeclaration));
+  return (
+    classDeclaration.body.body.length >= 1 &&
+    classDeclaration.body.body.some(
+      item =>
+        types.isClassProperty(item) &&
+        types.isIdentifier(item.key) &&
+        item.key.name === propertyName
+    )
+  );
+}
+
+function callExpressionClassHasProperty(callExpression, propertyName) {
+  assert(types.isCallExpression(callExpression));
+  return (
+    callExpression.arguments.length >= 1 &&
+    types.isObjectExpression(callExpression.arguments[callExpression.arguments.length - 1]) &&
+    callExpression.arguments[callExpression.arguments.length - 1].properties.some(
+      prop => types.isIdentifier(prop.key) && prop.key.name === propertyName
+    )
+  );
+}
diff --git a/tests/lib/rules/no-controllers.js b/tests/lib/rules/no-controllers.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3eeeb49c00
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/lib/rules/no-controllers.js
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Requirements
+//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+const rule = require('../../../lib/rules/no-controllers');
+const RuleTester = require('eslint').RuleTester;
+
+const { ERROR_MESSAGE } = rule;
+
+//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Tests
+//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+const ruleTester = new RuleTester({
+  parser: require.resolve('babel-eslint'),
+  parserOptions: { ecmaVersion: 6, sourceType: 'module' },
+});
+ruleTester.run('no-controllers', rule, {
+  valid: [
+    `
+      import Controller from '@ember/controller';
+      export default Controller.extend({
+        someFunction() {},
+        query: null,
+        sortType: null,
+        sortOrder: null,
+        queryParams: ['query', 'sortType', 'sortOrder']
+      });
+    `,
+    `
+      import Controller from '@ember/controller';
+      export default class ArticlesController extends Controller {
+        get filteredArticles() {}
+        @tracked category = null;
+        queryParams = ['category'];
+      }
+    `,
+  ],
+
+  invalid: [
+    // ***************
+    // Legacy classes:
+    // ***************
+
+    {
+      code: `
+        import Controller from '@ember/controller';
+        export default Controller.extend();
+      `,
+      output: null,
+      errors: [{ type: 'CallExpression', message: ERROR_MESSAGE }],
+    },
+    {
+      code: `
+        import Controller from '@ember/controller';
+        export default Controller.extend(SomeMixin);
+      `,
+      output: null,
+      errors: [{ type: 'CallExpression', message: ERROR_MESSAGE }],
+    },
+    {
+      code: `
+        import Controller from '@ember/controller';
+        export default Controller.extend({});
+      `,
+      output: null,
+      errors: [{ type: 'CallExpression', message: ERROR_MESSAGE }],
+    },
+    {
+      code: `
+        import Controller from '@ember/controller';
+        export default Controller.extend({
+          randomProperty: true,
+          randomFunction() {}
+        });
+      `,
+      output: null,
+      errors: [{ type: 'CallExpression', message: ERROR_MESSAGE }],
+    },
+    {
+      // With mixin.
+      code: `
+        import Controller from '@ember/controller';
+        export default Controller.extend(SomeMixin, {
+          randomProperty: true,
+          randomFunction() {}
+        });
+      `,
+      output: null,
+      errors: [{ type: 'CallExpression', message: ERROR_MESSAGE }],
+    },
+
+    // ***************
+    // Native classes:
+    // ***************
+
+    {
+      code: `
+        import Controller from '@ember/controller';
+        export default class ArticlesController extends Controller {}
+      `,
+      output: null,
+      errors: [{ type: 'ClassDeclaration', message: ERROR_MESSAGE }],
+    },
+    {
+      code: `
+        import Controller from '@ember/controller';
+        export default class ArticlesController extends Controller {
+          randomProperty = true;
+          get filteredArticles() {}
+        }
+      `,
+      output: null,
+      errors: [{ type: 'ClassDeclaration', message: ERROR_MESSAGE }],
+    },
+  ],
+});