diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 3fb46d9244..372ed51b2d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ jobs:
           for crate in ${ALSO_WASM_CRATES}; do
             cargo check --verbose --no-default-features --target wasm32-unknown-unknown \
               --manifest-path ./crates/${crate}/Cargo.toml;
-          done        
+          done
 
       - name: Check RISCV
         if: ${{ matrix.type == 'RISCV' }}
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ jobs:
           for crate in ${ALSO_WASM_CRATES}; do
             cargo check --verbose --no-default-features --target $RISCV_TARGET -Zbuild-std="core,alloc" \
               --manifest-path ./crates/${crate}/Cargo.toml;
-          done       
+          done
 
   dylint:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
@@ -336,7 +336,9 @@ jobs:
       - name: Cache
         uses: Swatinem/rust-cache@v2
         with:
-          cache-directories: ${{ env.CARGO_TARGET_DIR }}
+          cache-directories: |
+            ${{ env.CARGO_TARGET_DIR }}
+            ${{ env.CARGO_TARGET_DIR }}/linting
 
       - name: Rust Info
         uses: ./.github/rust-info
@@ -353,6 +355,7 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           cargo test --verbose --all-features --no-fail-fast --workspace --locked
           cargo test --verbose --all-features --no-fail-fast --workspace --doc --locked
+          pushd linting && cargo test --verbose --all-features --no-fail-fast --workspace && popd
 
   docs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index d81afc42f7..2121cad050 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 - Support multiple chain extensions - [#1958](https://github.com/paritytech/ink/pull/1958)
   - New example of how to use multiple chain extensions in one contract.
   - Affects the usage of the `#[ink::chain_extension]` macro and the definition of the chain extension.
+- Split up `ink_linting` to mandatory and extra libraries - [#2032](https://github.com/paritytech/ink/pull/2032)
 
 
 ## Version 5.0.0-alpha
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 2a264bf54f..afac0c3a63 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ members = [
 ]
 exclude = [
     "integration-tests",
+    "linting",
 ]
 
 [workspace.package]
diff --git a/linting/Cargo.toml b/linting/Cargo.toml
index f622e319e9..82264da62e 100644
--- a/linting/Cargo.toml
+++ b/linting/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,85 +1,12 @@
-[package]
-name = "ink_linting"
-version = "5.0.0-rc"
-authors = ["Parity Technologies <admin@parity.io>"]
-edition = "2021"
-publish = false
-
-license = "Apache-2.0"
-readme = "README.md"
-repository = "https://github.com/paritytech/ink"
-documentation = "https://docs.rs/ink_linting"
-homepage = "https://github.com/paritytech/ink"
-description = "Linting tool for ink! smart contracts."
-keywords = ["parity", "blockchain", "ink", "smart contracts", "substrate"]
-include = ["Cargo.toml", "*.rs", "LICENSE"]
-
-[lib]
-crate-type = ["cdylib"]
-
-[dependencies]
-clippy_utils = { git = "https://github.com/rust-lang/rust-clippy", rev = "1d334696587ac22b3a9e651e7ac684ac9e0697b2" }
-dylint_linting = "2.1.12"
-if_chain = "1.0.2"
-log = "0.4.14"
-regex = "1.5.4"
-
-[dev-dependencies]
-dylint_testing = "2.1.12"
-
-# The following are ink! dependencies, they are only required for the `ui` tests.
-ink_env = { path = "../crates/env", default-features = false }
-ink = { path = "../crates/ink", default-features = false, features = ["std"] }
-ink_metadata = { path = "../crates/metadata", default-features = false }
-ink_primitives = { path = "../crates/primitives", default-features = false }
-ink_storage = { path = "../crates/storage", default-features = false }
-scale = { package = "parity-scale-codec", version = "3.4", default-features = false, features = ["derive"] }
-scale-info = { version = "2.6", default-features = false, features = ["derive"] }
-
-# For the moment we have to include the tests as examples and
-# then use `dylint_testing::ui_test_examples`.
-#
-# The reason is that the `dylint_testing` API currently does not
-# provide any other option to run the tests on those files
-# *while giving us the option to specify the dependencies*.
-#
-# Those files require the ink! dependencies though, by having
-# them as examples here, they inherit the `dev-dependencies`.
-[[example]]
-name = "primitive_topic_pass"
-path = "ui/pass/primitive_topic.rs"
-[[example]]
-name = "primitive_topic_fail"
-path = "ui/fail/primitive_topic.rs"
-[[example]]
-name = "storage_never_freed_pass"
-path = "ui/pass/storage_never_freed.rs"
-[[example]]
-name = "storage_never_freed_fail"
-path = "ui/fail/storage_never_freed.rs"
-[[example]]
-name = "strict_balance_equality_pass"
-path = "ui/pass/strict_balance_equality.rs"
-[[example]]
-name = "strict_balance_equality_fail"
-path = "ui/fail/strict_balance_equality.rs"
-[[example]]
-name = "no_main_pass"
-path = "ui/pass/no_main.rs"
-
-[package.metadata.rust-analyzer]
-rustc_private = true
-
 [workspace]
+resolver = "2"
+members = [
+    "mandatory",
+    "extra",
+]
 
-[features]
-default = ["std"]
-std = [
-    "ink_metadata/std",
-    "ink_env/std",
-    "ink_storage/std",
-    "ink_primitives/std",
-    "scale/std",
-    "scale-info/std",
+[workspace.metadata.dylint]
+libraries = [
+    { path = "mandatory" },
+    { path = "extra" },
 ]
-ink-as-dependency = []
diff --git a/linting/README.md b/linting/README.md
index 8cc265805b..5257412880 100644
--- a/linting/README.md
+++ b/linting/README.md
@@ -1,18 +1,23 @@
 # ink! linting rules
 
 This crate uses [`dylint`](https://github.com/trailofbits/dylint) to define custom
-linting rules for [ink!](https://github.com/paritytech/ink);
+linting rules for [ink!](https://github.com/paritytech/ink).
 
 It is not part of the workspace because it needs a custom linker to be built.
 
 The lints are written against a fixed toolchain version because they are using unstable
-APIs. This is why we have a toolchain file here.
+APIs. This is why we have [a toolchain file](./rust-toolchain.toml) here.
 
-You can use it by running `cargo dylint` after adding this to your `Cargo.toml`:
+This crate contains two libraries:
+* [`mandatory`](./mandatory) lints are integrated into the ink! smart contracts' build process, adding custom compilation errors to `cargo-build`.
+* [`extra`](./extra) lints are designed to check for secure coding style in smart contracts and highlight potential issues. These are optional and intended for use by the contract developer to improve the security properties of their project.
+
+You can use them by running `cargo dylint` after adding this to your `Cargo.toml`:
 
 ```toml
 [workspace.metadata.dylint]
 libraries = [
-    { git = "https://github.com/paritytech/ink.git", pattern = "linting/" },
+    { git = "https://github.com/paritytech/ink.git", pattern = "linting/mandatory" },
+    { git = "https://github.com/paritytech/ink.git", pattern = "linting/extra" },
 ]
 ```
diff --git a/linting/extra/Cargo.toml b/linting/extra/Cargo.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..dbbeb2719d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/linting/extra/Cargo.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+[package]
+name = "ink_linting"
+version = "5.0.0-rc"
+authors = ["Parity Technologies <admin@parity.io>"]
+edition = "2021"
+publish = false
+
+license = "Apache-2.0"
+readme = "README.md"
+repository = "https://github.com/paritytech/ink"
+documentation = "https://docs.rs/ink_linting"
+homepage = "https://github.com/paritytech/ink"
+description = "Extra linting rules for ink! smart contracts"
+keywords = ["parity", "blockchain", "ink", "smart contracts", "substrate"]
+include = ["Cargo.toml", "*.rs", "LICENSE"]
+
+[lib]
+crate-type = ["cdylib"]
+
+[dependencies]
+clippy_utils = { git = "https://github.com/rust-lang/rust-clippy", rev = "1d334696587ac22b3a9e651e7ac684ac9e0697b2" }
+dylint_linting = "2.1.12"
+if_chain = "1.0.2"
+log = "0.4.14"
+regex = "1.5.4"
+
+[dev-dependencies]
+dylint_testing = "2.1.12"
+# The following are ink! dependencies, they are only required for the `ui` tests.
+ink_env = { path = "../../crates/env", default-features = false }
+ink = { path = "../../crates/ink", default-features = false, features = ["std"] }
+ink_metadata = { path = "../../crates/metadata", default-features = false }
+ink_primitives = { path = "../../crates/primitives", default-features = false }
+ink_storage = { path = "../../crates/storage", default-features = false }
+scale = { package = "parity-scale-codec", version = "3.4", default-features = false, features = ["derive"] }
+scale-info = { version = "2.6", default-features = false, features = ["derive"] }
+
+# For the moment we have to include the tests as examples and
+# then use `dylint_testing::ui_test_examples`.
+#
+# The reason is that the `dylint_testing` API currently does not
+# provide any other option to run the tests on those files
+# *while giving us the option to specify the dependencies*.
+#
+# Those files require the ink! dependencies though, by having
+# them as examples here, they inherit the `dev-dependencies`.
+[[example]]
+name = "primitive_topic_pass"
+path = "ui/pass/primitive_topic.rs"
+[[example]]
+name = "primitive_topic_fail"
+path = "ui/fail/primitive_topic.rs"
+[[example]]
+name = "storage_never_freed_pass"
+path = "ui/pass/storage_never_freed.rs"
+[[example]]
+name = "storage_never_freed_fail"
+path = "ui/fail/storage_never_freed.rs"
+[[example]]
+name = "strict_balance_equality_pass"
+path = "ui/pass/strict_balance_equality.rs"
+[[example]]
+name = "strict_balance_equality_fail"
+path = "ui/fail/strict_balance_equality.rs"
+
+[package.metadata.rust-analyzer]
+rustc_private = true
+
+[features]
+default = ["std"]
+std = [
+    "ink_metadata/std",
+    "ink_env/std",
+    "ink_storage/std",
+    "ink_primitives/std",
+    "scale/std",
+    "scale-info/std",
+]
+ink-as-dependency = []
diff --git a/linting/extra/LICENSE b/linting/extra/LICENSE
new file mode 120000
index 0000000000..ea5b60640b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/linting/extra/LICENSE
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+../LICENSE
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/linting/extra/README.md b/linting/extra/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b68a8de548
--- /dev/null
+++ b/linting/extra/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+# Extra ink! linting rules
+These lints are designed to check for secure coding style in smart contracts and highlight potential issues. These are optional and intended for use by the contract developer to improve the security properties of their project.
diff --git a/linting/src/ink_utils.rs b/linting/extra/src/ink_utils.rs
similarity index 100%
rename from linting/src/ink_utils.rs
rename to linting/extra/src/ink_utils.rs
diff --git a/linting/src/lib.rs b/linting/extra/src/lib.rs
similarity index 94%
rename from linting/src/lib.rs
rename to linting/extra/src/lib.rs
index e9b7673e1b..fdb19ab04b 100644
--- a/linting/src/lib.rs
+++ b/linting/extra/src/lib.rs
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ extern crate rustc_session;
 extern crate rustc_span;
 
 mod ink_utils;
-mod no_main;
 mod primitive_topic;
 mod storage_never_freed;
 mod strict_balance_equality;
@@ -47,13 +46,11 @@ pub fn register_lints(
         primitive_topic::PRIMITIVE_TOPIC,
         storage_never_freed::STORAGE_NEVER_FREED,
         strict_balance_equality::STRICT_BALANCE_EQUALITY,
-        no_main::NO_MAIN,
     ]);
     lint_store.register_late_pass(|_| Box::new(primitive_topic::PrimitiveTopic));
     lint_store.register_late_pass(|_| Box::new(storage_never_freed::StorageNeverFreed));
     lint_store
         .register_late_pass(|_| Box::new(strict_balance_equality::StrictBalanceEquality));
-    lint_store.register_early_pass(|| Box::new(no_main::NoMain));
 }
 
 #[test]
diff --git a/linting/src/primitive_topic.rs b/linting/extra/src/primitive_topic.rs
similarity index 100%
rename from linting/src/primitive_topic.rs
rename to linting/extra/src/primitive_topic.rs
diff --git a/linting/src/storage_never_freed.rs b/linting/extra/src/storage_never_freed.rs
similarity index 100%
rename from linting/src/storage_never_freed.rs
rename to linting/extra/src/storage_never_freed.rs
diff --git a/linting/src/strict_balance_equality.rs b/linting/extra/src/strict_balance_equality.rs
similarity index 100%
rename from linting/src/strict_balance_equality.rs
rename to linting/extra/src/strict_balance_equality.rs
diff --git a/linting/ui/fail/primitive_topic.rs b/linting/extra/ui/fail/primitive_topic.rs
similarity index 100%
rename from linting/ui/fail/primitive_topic.rs
rename to linting/extra/ui/fail/primitive_topic.rs
diff --git a/linting/ui/fail/primitive_topic.stderr b/linting/extra/ui/fail/primitive_topic.stderr
similarity index 100%
rename from linting/ui/fail/primitive_topic.stderr
rename to linting/extra/ui/fail/primitive_topic.stderr
diff --git a/linting/ui/fail/storage_never_freed.rs b/linting/extra/ui/fail/storage_never_freed.rs
similarity index 100%
rename from linting/ui/fail/storage_never_freed.rs
rename to linting/extra/ui/fail/storage_never_freed.rs
diff --git a/linting/ui/fail/storage_never_freed.stderr b/linting/extra/ui/fail/storage_never_freed.stderr
similarity index 100%
rename from linting/ui/fail/storage_never_freed.stderr
rename to linting/extra/ui/fail/storage_never_freed.stderr
diff --git a/linting/ui/fail/strict_balance_equality.rs b/linting/extra/ui/fail/strict_balance_equality.rs
similarity index 100%
rename from linting/ui/fail/strict_balance_equality.rs
rename to linting/extra/ui/fail/strict_balance_equality.rs
diff --git a/linting/ui/fail/strict_balance_equality.stderr b/linting/extra/ui/fail/strict_balance_equality.stderr
similarity index 100%
rename from linting/ui/fail/strict_balance_equality.stderr
rename to linting/extra/ui/fail/strict_balance_equality.stderr
diff --git a/linting/ui/pass/primitive_topic.rs b/linting/extra/ui/pass/primitive_topic.rs
similarity index 100%
rename from linting/ui/pass/primitive_topic.rs
rename to linting/extra/ui/pass/primitive_topic.rs
diff --git a/linting/ui/pass/storage_never_freed.rs b/linting/extra/ui/pass/storage_never_freed.rs
similarity index 100%
rename from linting/ui/pass/storage_never_freed.rs
rename to linting/extra/ui/pass/storage_never_freed.rs
diff --git a/linting/ui/pass/strict_balance_equality.rs b/linting/extra/ui/pass/strict_balance_equality.rs
similarity index 100%
rename from linting/ui/pass/strict_balance_equality.rs
rename to linting/extra/ui/pass/strict_balance_equality.rs
diff --git a/linting/mandatory/Cargo.toml b/linting/mandatory/Cargo.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..db17881613
--- /dev/null
+++ b/linting/mandatory/Cargo.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+[package]
+name = "ink_linting_mandatory"
+version = "5.0.0-rc"
+authors = ["Parity Technologies <admin@parity.io>"]
+edition = "2021"
+publish = false
+
+license = "Apache-2.0"
+readme = "README.md"
+repository = "https://github.com/paritytech/ink"
+documentation = "https://docs.rs/ink_linting"
+homepage = "https://github.com/paritytech/ink"
+description = "Mandatory ink! linting rules integrated in contracts' build process"
+keywords = ["parity", "blockchain", "ink", "smart contracts", "substrate"]
+include = ["Cargo.toml", "*.rs", "LICENSE"]
+
+[lib]
+crate-type = ["cdylib"]
+
+[dependencies]
+clippy_utils = { git = "https://github.com/rust-lang/rust-clippy", rev = "1d334696587ac22b3a9e651e7ac684ac9e0697b2" }
+dylint_linting = "2.1.12"
+if_chain = "1.0.2"
+log = "0.4.14"
+regex = "1.5.4"
+
+[dev-dependencies]
+dylint_testing = "2.1.12"
+# The following are ink! dependencies, they are only required for the `ui` tests.
+ink_env = { path = "../../crates/env", default-features = false }
+ink = { path = "../../crates/ink", default-features = false, features = ["std"] }
+ink_metadata = { path = "../../crates/metadata", default-features = false }
+ink_primitives = { path = "../../crates/primitives", default-features = false }
+ink_storage = { path = "../../crates/storage", default-features = false }
+scale = { package = "parity-scale-codec", version = "3.4", default-features = false, features = ["derive"] }
+scale-info = { version = "2.6", default-features = false, features = ["derive"] }
+
+# For the moment we have to include the tests as examples and
+# then use `dylint_testing::ui_test_examples`.
+#
+# The reason is that the `dylint_testing` API currently does not
+# provide any other option to run the tests on those files
+# *while giving us the option to specify the dependencies*.
+#
+# Those files require the ink! dependencies though, by having
+# them as examples here, they inherit the `dev-dependencies`.
+[[example]]
+name = "no_main_pass"
+path = "ui/pass/no_main.rs"
+
+[package.metadata.rust-analyzer]
+rustc_private = true
+
+[features]
+default = ["std"]
+std = [
+    "ink_metadata/std",
+    "ink_env/std",
+    "ink_storage/std",
+    "ink_primitives/std",
+    "scale/std",
+    "scale-info/std",
+]
+ink-as-dependency = []
diff --git a/linting/mandatory/LICENSE b/linting/mandatory/LICENSE
new file mode 120000
index 0000000000..ea5b60640b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/linting/mandatory/LICENSE
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+../LICENSE
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/linting/mandatory/README.md b/linting/mandatory/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9702eb422e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/linting/mandatory/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+# Mandatory ink! linting rules
+dylint-based lints integrated into the ink! contracts' build process, intended to generate custom compilation errors.
diff --git a/linting/mandatory/src/lib.rs b/linting/mandatory/src/lib.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..02b94a34b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/linting/mandatory/src/lib.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+// Copyright (C) Parity Technologies (UK) Ltd.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+#![doc(
+    html_logo_url = "https://use.ink/img/crate-docs/logo.png",
+    html_favicon_url = "https://use.ink/crate-docs/favicon.png"
+)]
+#![feature(rustc_private)]
+#![feature(box_patterns)]
+
+dylint_linting::dylint_library!();
+
+extern crate rustc_ast;
+extern crate rustc_errors;
+extern crate rustc_hir;
+extern crate rustc_index;
+extern crate rustc_lint;
+extern crate rustc_middle;
+extern crate rustc_mir_dataflow;
+extern crate rustc_session;
+extern crate rustc_span;
+
+mod no_main;
+
+#[doc(hidden)]
+#[no_mangle]
+pub fn register_lints(
+    _sess: &rustc_session::Session,
+    lint_store: &mut rustc_lint::LintStore,
+) {
+    lint_store.register_lints(&[no_main::NO_MAIN]);
+    lint_store.register_early_pass(|| Box::new(no_main::NoMain));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn ui() {
+    dylint_testing::ui_test_examples(env!("CARGO_PKG_NAME"));
+}
diff --git a/linting/src/no_main.rs b/linting/mandatory/src/no_main.rs
similarity index 100%
rename from linting/src/no_main.rs
rename to linting/mandatory/src/no_main.rs
diff --git a/linting/ui/pass/no_main.rs b/linting/mandatory/ui/pass/no_main.rs
similarity index 100%
rename from linting/ui/pass/no_main.rs
rename to linting/mandatory/ui/pass/no_main.rs