diff --git a/.env b/.env
index 7c90621fa..4fbbb9745 100644
--- a/.env
+++ b/.env
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 # Do not place any sensitive credentials in this file
 # See [.dotenv docs](https://github.com/bkeepers/dotenv#what-other-env-files-can-i-use) for how to override values for dev/test
 
+# Not necessary in dev|test but needs to be set in any prod environment (use `bin/rails secret` to generate a new one)
+# SECRET_KEY_BASE=674f41bcbdefa10e443f1161188296a048d837cc83aaa62ee1714a100e1a2e59638ed3206d4a4471c24456383904a250ea39474d4e650a17f484bdae5b88abe6
+
 # system name & email
 SYSTEM_APP_NAME=mutual-aid-app
 SYSTEM_EMAIL=mutualaidtesting@example.com
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 64210aee4..db81a3414 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -11,6 +11,10 @@ We're still in the [initial development phase](https://www.jering.tech/articles/
 
 This changelog also serves to acknowledge the incredible people who've contributed brilliance, effort and being. Their handles are listed under the first release they each  touched. 💗🙏🏾
 
+## [Unreleased]
+### Development notes
+* Remove `credentials.yml.enc` #896
+
 ## [0.4.0] - 2021-03-03
 ### Breaking changes
 * All users prior to this change now need to have their permission level set. Use the `make_users_admins` rake task to give existing users admin privileges #853
diff --git a/config/credentials.yml.enc b/config/credentials.yml.enc
deleted file mode 100644
index 79141385e..000000000
--- a/config/credentials.yml.enc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-nlViq24uctnDAxdZ7J5B8noUgqgVccG07Y7NHnYrGMAyG4c4yU3/NYakCbubEtVTVUUTJWjwCeWBG4i/8bAB+8T61YprqpRPbSE5JehRx4NLteamFi9urJPR5QVxhgZKtYggF4m163JtUtoWZBCqw5l9mma6yvyCRpXP+2khqu8XSftfr327sypRV3zz2VbSfUVaPo9z2Ki9gT/lkVSfvSda8CwLoeR8xd5XDh4UDIa/U+sN6h/sO8GE9D8dSW5HGXU6/Ucb3cs7ZLlnVUjjibmna1kqaFynzBjcx1Al3crCZIQVG1xu8p+hpmYDx/U2UPumLqI0chY+VRWN+Nz8NKQUqtOvL4MwR1kMkhyVpItHjlIhGbABnFV6kS3kesPtGxZHFxyZDVoeHXRoD08hJQAMNL1UdLGjiWRz--+4udnbdRBU2Wi3/Q--A7hEOkcWvHph3AEJICsrvg==
\ No newline at end of file