diff --git a/app.js b/app.js
index 46b6e0c1..5eec7f19 100644
--- a/app.js
+++ b/app.js
@@ -735,6 +735,33 @@ async function init() {
     addChatMessage('error', 'Portal registry offline. Check logs.');
   }
 
+  // Hot-reload portals.json every 5 seconds
+  let lastPortalHash = '';
+  setInterval(async () => {
+    try {
+      const response = await fetch('./portals.json?' + Date.now());
+      const text = await response.text();
+      const hash = text.length + '-' + text.slice(0, 100);
+      
+      if (hash !== lastPortalHash && lastPortalHash !== '') {
+        console.log('[Portal Hot-Reload] portals.json changed, reloading...');
+        const portalData = JSON.parse(text);
+        
+        // Remove existing portals from scene
+        portals.forEach(p => scene.remove(p));
+        portals.length = 0;
+        
+        // Create new portals
+        createPortals(portalData);
+        addChatMessage('system', `Portals hot-reloaded: ${portalData.length} portals active`);
+      }
+      
+      lastPortalHash = hash;
+    } catch (e) {
+      // Silent fail - file might not be available
+    }
+  }, 5000);
+
   // Load Vision Points
   try {
     const response = await fetch('./vision.json');