diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index bf014a54244e0..50026c5bf9bb1 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -373,7 +373,7 @@
     "@kbn/plugin-generator": "link:packages/kbn-plugin-generator",
     "@kbn/plugin-helpers": "link:packages/kbn-plugin-helpers",
     "@kbn/pm": "link:packages/kbn-pm",
-    "@kbn/release-notes": "link:packages/kbn-release-notes",
+    "@kbn/docs-utils": "link:packages/kbn-docs-utils",
     "@kbn/storybook": "link:packages/kbn-storybook",
     "@kbn/telemetry-tools": "link:packages/kbn-telemetry-tools",
     "@kbn/test": "link:packages/kbn-test",
diff --git a/packages/kbn-release-notes/jest.config.js b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/jest.config.js
similarity index 89%
rename from packages/kbn-release-notes/jest.config.js
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/jest.config.js
index db5e48b1704fb..e9cdc1978231e 100644
--- a/packages/kbn-release-notes/jest.config.js
+++ b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/jest.config.js
@@ -9,5 +9,5 @@
 module.exports = {
   preset: '@kbn/test',
   rootDir: '../..',
-  roots: ['<rootDir>/packages/kbn-release-notes'],
+  roots: ['<rootDir>/packages/kbn-docs-utils'],
 };
diff --git a/packages/kbn-release-notes/package.json b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/package.json
similarity index 92%
rename from packages/kbn-release-notes/package.json
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/package.json
index c325367c7d47e..6571f8c87dbfa 100644
--- a/packages/kbn-release-notes/package.json
+++ b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/package.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "name": "@kbn/release-notes",
+  "name": "@kbn/docs-utils",
   "version": "1.0.0",
   "license": "SSPL-1.0 OR Elastic License 2.0",
   "private": "true",
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/README.md b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/README.md
similarity index 91%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/README.md
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/README.md
index dfe01f2684983..f980fe83b9596 100644
--- a/src/dev/build_api_docs/README.md
+++ b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/README.md
@@ -8,5 +8,5 @@ we determine the value of such a system and what kind of maintenance burder it w
 To generate the docs run 
 
 ```
-yarn build:apidocs
+node scripts/build_api_docs
 ```
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_declarations/buid_api_declaration.test.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_declarations/buid_api_declaration.test.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_declarations/buid_api_declaration.test.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_declarations/buid_api_declaration.test.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_api_declaration.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_api_declaration.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_api_declaration.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_api_declaration.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_arrow_fn_dec.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_arrow_fn_dec.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_arrow_fn_dec.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_arrow_fn_dec.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_class_dec.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_class_dec.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_class_dec.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_class_dec.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_function_dec.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_function_dec.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_function_dec.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_function_dec.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_function_type_dec.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_function_type_dec.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_function_type_dec.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_function_type_dec.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_interface_dec.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_interface_dec.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_interface_dec.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_interface_dec.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_parameter_decs.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_parameter_decs.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_parameter_decs.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_parameter_decs.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_type_literal_dec.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_type_literal_dec.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_type_literal_dec.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_type_literal_dec.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_variable_dec.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_variable_dec.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_variable_dec.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_declarations/build_variable_dec.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_declarations/extract_import_refs.test.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_declarations/extract_import_refs.test.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_declarations/extract_import_refs.test.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_declarations/extract_import_refs.test.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_declarations/extract_import_refs.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_declarations/extract_import_refs.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_declarations/extract_import_refs.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_declarations/extract_import_refs.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_declarations/get_signature.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_declarations/get_signature.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_declarations/get_signature.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_declarations/get_signature.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_declarations/get_type_kind.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_declarations/get_type_kind.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_declarations/get_type_kind.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_declarations/get_type_kind.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_declarations/js_doc_utils.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_declarations/js_doc_utils.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_declarations/js_doc_utils.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_declarations/js_doc_utils.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_declarations/utils.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_declarations/utils.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_declarations/utils.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_declarations/utils.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_docs.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_docs_cli.ts
similarity index 61%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_docs.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_docs_cli.ts
index e212b060019e2..6698974e74e09 100644
--- a/src/dev/build_api_docs/build_api_docs.ts
+++ b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/build_api_docs_cli.ts
@@ -6,21 +6,69 @@
  * Side Public License, v 1.
  */
 
-import fs from 'fs';
+import Fs from 'fs';
 import Path from 'path';
-import { REPO_ROOT } from '@kbn/dev-utils';
-import { ToolingLog } from '@kbn/dev-utils';
+
+import { REPO_ROOT, run } from '@kbn/dev-utils';
 import { Project } from 'ts-morph';
+
 import { getPluginApi } from './get_plugin_api';
 import { writePluginDocs } from './mdx/write_plugin_mdx_docs';
-import { findPlugins } from '../plugin_discovery';
 import { ApiDeclaration, PluginApi } from './types';
 import { mergeScopeApi } from './utils';
+import { findPlugins } from './find_plugins';
+
+export function runBuildApiDocsCli() {
+  run(
+    async ({ log }) => {
+      const project = getTsProject(REPO_ROOT);
+
+      const plugins = findPlugins();
+
+      const pluginInfos: Array<{
+        apiCount: number;
+        apiCountMissingComments: number;
+        plugin: string;
+      }> = [];
+
+      const outputFolder = Path.resolve(REPO_ROOT, 'api_docs');
+      if (!Fs.existsSync(outputFolder)) {
+        Fs.mkdirSync(outputFolder);
+      } else {
+        // Delete all files except the README that warns about the auto-generated nature of
+        // the folder.
+        const files = Fs.readdirSync(outputFolder);
+        files.forEach((file) => {
+          if (file.indexOf('README.md') < 0) {
+            Fs.rmSync(Path.resolve(outputFolder, file));
+          }
+        });
+      }
+
+      plugins.forEach((plugin) => {
+        const doc = getPluginApi(project, plugin, plugins, log);
+        const info = {
+          plugin: plugin.manifest.id,
+          apiCount: countApiForPlugin(doc),
+          apiCountMissingComments: countMissingCommentsApiForPlugin(doc),
+        };
+
+        if (info.apiCount > 0) {
+          writePluginDocs(outputFolder, doc, log);
+          pluginInfos.push(info);
+        }
+      });
 
-const log = new ToolingLog({
-  level: 'debug',
-  writeTo: process.stdout,
-});
+      // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
+      console.table(pluginInfos);
+    },
+    {
+      log: {
+        defaultLevel: 'debug',
+      },
+    }
+  );
+}
 
 function getTsProject(repoPath: string) {
   const xpackTsConfig = `${repoPath}/x-pack/tsconfig.json`;
@@ -34,56 +82,6 @@ function getTsProject(repoPath: string) {
   return project;
 }
 
-export function buildApiDocs() {
-  const project = getTsProject(REPO_ROOT);
-
-  const plugins = Array.from(
-    findPlugins({
-      oss: false,
-      examples: false,
-      // Use this to capture "core" as a plugin.
-      extraPluginScanDirs: [Path.resolve(REPO_ROOT, 'src')],
-    }).values()
-  );
-
-  const pluginInfos: Array<{
-    apiCount: number;
-    apiCountMissingComments: number;
-    plugin: string;
-  }> = [];
-
-  const outputFolder = Path.resolve(REPO_ROOT, 'api_docs');
-  if (!fs.existsSync(outputFolder)) {
-    fs.mkdirSync(outputFolder);
-  } else {
-    // Delete all files except the README that warns about the auto-generated nature of
-    // the folder.
-    const files = fs.readdirSync(outputFolder);
-    files.forEach((file) => {
-      if (file.indexOf('README.md') < 0) {
-        fs.rmSync(Path.resolve(outputFolder, file));
-      }
-    });
-  }
-
-  plugins.forEach((plugin) => {
-    const doc = getPluginApi(project, plugin, plugins, log);
-    const info = {
-      plugin: plugin.manifest.id,
-      apiCount: countApiForPlugin(doc),
-      apiCountMissingComments: countMissingCommentsApiForPlugin(doc),
-    };
-
-    if (info.apiCount > 0) {
-      writePluginDocs(outputFolder, doc, log);
-      pluginInfos.push(info);
-    }
-  });
-
-  // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
-  console.table(pluginInfos);
-}
-
 function countMissingCommentsApiForPlugin(doc: PluginApi) {
   return (
     mergeScopeApi(doc.client).reduce((sum, def) => {
diff --git a/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/find_plugins.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/find_plugins.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..004124f13889d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/find_plugins.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0 and the Server Side Public License, v 1; you may not use this file except
+ * in compliance with, at your election, the Elastic License 2.0 or the Server
+ * Side Public License, v 1.
+ */
+
+import Path from 'path';
+
+import { getPluginSearchPaths } from '@kbn/config';
+import { simpleKibanaPlatformPluginDiscovery, REPO_ROOT } from '@kbn/dev-utils';
+
+export function findPlugins() {
+  const pluginSearchPaths = getPluginSearchPaths({
+    rootDir: REPO_ROOT,
+    oss: false,
+    examples: false,
+  });
+
+  return simpleKibanaPlatformPluginDiscovery(pluginSearchPaths, [
+    // discover "core" as a plugin
+    Path.resolve(REPO_ROOT, 'src/core'),
+  ]);
+}
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/get_declaration_nodes_for_plugin.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/get_declaration_nodes_for_plugin.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/get_declaration_nodes_for_plugin.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/get_declaration_nodes_for_plugin.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/get_plugin_api.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/get_plugin_api.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/get_plugin_api.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/get_plugin_api.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/run.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/index.ts
similarity index 84%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/run.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/index.ts
index 6e7712f48dd22..8dca507764a79 100644
--- a/src/dev/build_api_docs/run.ts
+++ b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/index.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,4 @@
  * Side Public License, v 1.
  */
 
-import { buildApiDocs } from './build_api_docs';
-
-buildApiDocs();
+export * from './build_api_docs_cli';
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/mdx/split_apis_by_folder.test.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/mdx/split_apis_by_folder.test.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/mdx/split_apis_by_folder.test.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/mdx/split_apis_by_folder.test.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/mdx/write_plugin_mdx_docs.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/mdx/write_plugin_mdx_docs.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/mdx/write_plugin_mdx_docs.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/mdx/write_plugin_mdx_docs.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/mdx/write_plugin_split_by_folder.test.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/mdx/write_plugin_split_by_folder.test.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/mdx/write_plugin_split_by_folder.test.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/mdx/write_plugin_split_by_folder.test.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/mdx/write_plugin_split_by_folder.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/mdx/write_plugin_split_by_folder.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/mdx/write_plugin_split_by_folder.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/mdx/write_plugin_split_by_folder.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/src/plugin_a/common/foo/index.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/__fixtures__/src/plugin_a/common/foo/index.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/src/plugin_a/common/foo/index.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/__fixtures__/src/plugin_a/common/foo/index.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/src/plugin_a/common/index.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/__fixtures__/src/plugin_a/common/index.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/src/plugin_a/common/index.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/__fixtures__/src/plugin_a/common/index.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/src/plugin_a/kibana.json b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/__fixtures__/src/plugin_a/kibana.json
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/src/plugin_a/kibana.json
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/__fixtures__/src/plugin_a/kibana.json
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/src/plugin_a/public/classes.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/__fixtures__/src/plugin_a/public/classes.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/src/plugin_a/public/classes.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/__fixtures__/src/plugin_a/public/classes.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/src/plugin_a/public/const_vars.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/__fixtures__/src/plugin_a/public/const_vars.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/src/plugin_a/public/const_vars.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/__fixtures__/src/plugin_a/public/const_vars.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/src/plugin_a/public/fns.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/__fixtures__/src/plugin_a/public/fns.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/src/plugin_a/public/fns.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/__fixtures__/src/plugin_a/public/fns.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/src/plugin_a/public/foo/index.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/__fixtures__/src/plugin_a/public/foo/index.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/src/plugin_a/public/foo/index.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/__fixtures__/src/plugin_a/public/foo/index.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/src/plugin_a/public/index.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/__fixtures__/src/plugin_a/public/index.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/src/plugin_a/public/index.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/__fixtures__/src/plugin_a/public/index.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/src/plugin_a/public/plugin.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/__fixtures__/src/plugin_a/public/plugin.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/src/plugin_a/public/plugin.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/__fixtures__/src/plugin_a/public/plugin.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/src/plugin_a/public/types.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/__fixtures__/src/plugin_a/public/types.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/src/plugin_a/public/types.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/__fixtures__/src/plugin_a/public/types.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/src/tsconfig.json b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/__fixtures__/src/tsconfig.json
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/src/tsconfig.json
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/__fixtures__/src/tsconfig.json
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/api_doc_suite.test.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/api_doc_suite.test.ts
similarity index 96%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/api_doc_suite.test.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/api_doc_suite.test.ts
index af0d00602da7c..1c29348092d73 100644
--- a/src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/api_doc_suite.test.ts
+++ b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/api_doc_suite.test.ts
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@
 
 import fs from 'fs';
 import Path from 'path';
+
 import { Project } from 'ts-morph';
-import { REPO_ROOT } from '@kbn/utils';
 import { ToolingLog, KibanaPlatformPlugin } from '@kbn/dev-utils';
 
 import { writePluginDocs } from '../mdx/write_plugin_mdx_docs';
@@ -75,15 +75,7 @@ function fnIsCorrect(fn: ApiDeclaration | undefined) {
 }
 
 beforeAll(() => {
-  const tsConfigFilePath = Path.resolve(
-    REPO_ROOT,
-    'src',
-    'dev',
-    'build_api_docs',
-    'tests',
-    'src',
-    'tsconfig.json'
-  );
+  const tsConfigFilePath = Path.resolve(__dirname, '__fixtures__/src/tsconfig.json');
   const project = new Project({
     tsConfigFilePath,
   });
@@ -95,7 +87,7 @@ beforeAll(() => {
   const plugins: KibanaPlatformPlugin[] = [pluginA];
 
   doc = getPluginApi(project, plugins[0], plugins, log);
-  mdxOutputFolder = Path.resolve(REPO_ROOT, 'src', 'dev', 'build_api_docs', 'tests', 'snapshots');
+  mdxOutputFolder = Path.resolve(__dirname, 'snapshots');
   writePluginDocs(mdxOutputFolder, doc, log);
 });
 
@@ -131,8 +123,8 @@ it('const exported from common folder is correct', () => {
   const fooConst = doc.common.misc.find((c) => c.label === 'commonFoo');
   expect(fooConst).toBeDefined();
 
-  expect(fooConst!.source.path.indexOf('src/plugin_a/common/foo/index.ts')).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(
-    0
+  expect(fooConst!.source.path.replace(Path.sep, '/')).toContain(
+    'src/plugin_a/common/foo/index.ts'
   );
   expect(fooConst!.signature![0]).toBe('"COMMON VAR!"');
 });
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/kibana_platform_plugin_mock.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/kibana_platform_plugin_mock.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/kibana_platform_plugin_mock.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/kibana_platform_plugin_mock.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/snapshots/plugin_a.json b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/snapshots/plugin_a.json
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/snapshots/plugin_a.json
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/snapshots/plugin_a.json
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/snapshots/plugin_a.mdx b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/snapshots/plugin_a.mdx
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/snapshots/plugin_a.mdx
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/snapshots/plugin_a.mdx
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/snapshots/plugin_a_foo.json b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/snapshots/plugin_a_foo.json
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/snapshots/plugin_a_foo.json
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/snapshots/plugin_a_foo.json
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/snapshots/plugin_a_foo.mdx b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/snapshots/plugin_a_foo.mdx
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/tests/snapshots/plugin_a_foo.mdx
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tests/snapshots/plugin_a_foo.mdx
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/tsmorph_utils.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tsmorph_utils.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/tsmorph_utils.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/tsmorph_utils.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/types.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/types.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/types.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/types.ts
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/utils.test.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/utils.test.ts
similarity index 86%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/utils.test.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/utils.test.ts
index 83cc56f864d65..bbcc3b360f6a8 100644
--- a/src/dev/build_api_docs/utils.test.ts
+++ b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/utils.test.ts
@@ -6,18 +6,11 @@
  * Side Public License, v 1.
  */
 
-import { KibanaPlatformPlugin } from '@kbn/dev-utils';
-import { findPlugins } from '../plugin_discovery';
+import { findPlugins } from './find_plugins';
 import { getPluginForPath, getServiceForPath } from './utils';
 
 it('test getPluginForPath', () => {
-  const plugins: KibanaPlatformPlugin[] = Array.from(
-    findPlugins({
-      oss: false,
-      examples: false,
-      extraPluginScanDirs: [],
-    }).values()
-  );
+  const plugins = findPlugins();
   expect(
     getPluginForPath('/Users/auser/kibana/src/plugins/embeddable/public/service/file.ts', plugins)
   ).toBeDefined();
diff --git a/src/dev/build_api_docs/utils.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/utils.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/dev/build_api_docs/utils.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/api_docs/utils.ts
diff --git a/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/index.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..24aef1bf891f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0 and the Server Side Public License, v 1; you may not use this file except
+ * in compliance with, at your election, the Elastic License 2.0 or the Server
+ * Side Public License, v 1.
+ */
+
+export * from './release_notes';
+export * from './api_docs';
diff --git a/packages/kbn-release-notes/src/cli.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/cli.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/kbn-release-notes/src/cli.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/cli.ts
diff --git a/packages/kbn-release-notes/src/formats/asciidoc.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/formats/asciidoc.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/kbn-release-notes/src/formats/asciidoc.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/formats/asciidoc.ts
diff --git a/packages/kbn-release-notes/src/formats/csv.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/formats/csv.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/kbn-release-notes/src/formats/csv.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/formats/csv.ts
diff --git a/packages/kbn-release-notes/src/formats/format.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/formats/format.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/kbn-release-notes/src/formats/format.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/formats/format.ts
diff --git a/packages/kbn-release-notes/src/formats/index.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/formats/index.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/kbn-release-notes/src/formats/index.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/formats/index.ts
diff --git a/packages/kbn-release-notes/src/index.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/index.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/kbn-release-notes/src/index.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/index.ts
diff --git a/packages/kbn-release-notes/src/lib/classify_pr.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/lib/classify_pr.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/kbn-release-notes/src/lib/classify_pr.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/lib/classify_pr.ts
diff --git a/packages/kbn-release-notes/src/lib/get_fix_references.test.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/lib/get_fix_references.test.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/kbn-release-notes/src/lib/get_fix_references.test.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/lib/get_fix_references.test.ts
diff --git a/packages/kbn-release-notes/src/lib/get_fix_references.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/lib/get_fix_references.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/kbn-release-notes/src/lib/get_fix_references.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/lib/get_fix_references.ts
diff --git a/packages/kbn-release-notes/src/lib/get_note_from_description.test.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/lib/get_note_from_description.test.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/kbn-release-notes/src/lib/get_note_from_description.test.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/lib/get_note_from_description.test.ts
diff --git a/packages/kbn-release-notes/src/lib/get_note_from_description.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/lib/get_note_from_description.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/kbn-release-notes/src/lib/get_note_from_description.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/lib/get_note_from_description.ts
diff --git a/packages/kbn-release-notes/src/lib/index.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/lib/index.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/kbn-release-notes/src/lib/index.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/lib/index.ts
diff --git a/packages/kbn-release-notes/src/lib/irrelevant_pr_summary.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/lib/irrelevant_pr_summary.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/kbn-release-notes/src/lib/irrelevant_pr_summary.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/lib/irrelevant_pr_summary.ts
diff --git a/packages/kbn-release-notes/src/lib/is_pr_relevant.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/lib/is_pr_relevant.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/kbn-release-notes/src/lib/is_pr_relevant.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/lib/is_pr_relevant.ts
diff --git a/packages/kbn-release-notes/src/lib/pr_api.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/lib/pr_api.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/kbn-release-notes/src/lib/pr_api.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/lib/pr_api.ts
diff --git a/packages/kbn-release-notes/src/lib/streams.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/lib/streams.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/kbn-release-notes/src/lib/streams.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/lib/streams.ts
diff --git a/packages/kbn-release-notes/src/lib/type_helpers.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/lib/type_helpers.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/kbn-release-notes/src/lib/type_helpers.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/lib/type_helpers.ts
diff --git a/packages/kbn-release-notes/src/lib/version.test.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/lib/version.test.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/kbn-release-notes/src/lib/version.test.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/lib/version.test.ts
diff --git a/packages/kbn-release-notes/src/lib/version.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/lib/version.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/kbn-release-notes/src/lib/version.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/lib/version.ts
diff --git a/packages/kbn-release-notes/src/release_notes_config.ts b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/release_notes_config.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/kbn-release-notes/src/release_notes_config.ts
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/src/release_notes/release_notes_config.ts
diff --git a/packages/kbn-release-notes/tsconfig.json b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/tsconfig.json
similarity index 81%
rename from packages/kbn-release-notes/tsconfig.json
rename to packages/kbn-docs-utils/tsconfig.json
index 02209a29e5817..3c683f487b9f2 100644
--- a/packages/kbn-release-notes/tsconfig.json
+++ b/packages/kbn-docs-utils/tsconfig.json
@@ -8,5 +8,8 @@
   },
   "include": [
     "src/**/*"
+  ],
+  "exclude": [
+    "**/__fixtures__/**/*"
   ]
 }
diff --git a/scripts/build_api_docs.js b/scripts/build_api_docs.js
index 288543579d623..3e26a2d87895c 100644
--- a/scripts/build_api_docs.js
+++ b/scripts/build_api_docs.js
@@ -7,4 +7,4 @@
  */
 
 require('../src/setup_node_env');
-require('../src/dev/build_api_docs/run');
+require('@kbn/docs-utils').runBuildApiDocsCli();
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index 3eeda72d53b8e..46bf27c48f60e 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -3445,6 +3445,10 @@
   version "0.0.0"
   uid ""
 
+"@kbn/docs-utils@link:packages/kbn-docs-utils":
+  version "0.0.0"
+  uid ""
+
 "@kbn/es-archiver@link:packages/kbn-es-archiver":
   version "0.0.0"
   uid ""
@@ -3501,10 +3505,6 @@
   version "0.0.0"
   uid ""
 
-"@kbn/release-notes@link:packages/kbn-release-notes":
-  version "0.0.0"
-  uid ""
-
 "@kbn/std@link:packages/kbn-std":
   version "0.0.0"
   uid ""