diff --git a/src/core/client/stream/tabs/Comments/Comment/ReplyCommentForm/CreateCommentReplyMutation.ts b/src/core/client/stream/tabs/Comments/Comment/ReplyCommentForm/CreateCommentReplyMutation.ts
index 656eeec64..5202d3932 100644
--- a/src/core/client/stream/tabs/Comments/Comment/ReplyCommentForm/CreateCommentReplyMutation.ts
+++ b/src/core/client/stream/tabs/Comments/Comment/ReplyCommentForm/CreateCommentReplyMutation.ts
@@ -136,6 +136,15 @@ const mutation = graphql`
           ...AllCommentsTabContainer_comment @relay(mask: false)
           id
           status
+          story {
+            settings {
+              # Load the story live settings so new comments can verify if live
+              # updates are still enabled (and enable then if they are).
+              live {
+                enabled
+              }
+            }
+          }
           parent {
             id
             tags {
@@ -234,6 +243,14 @@ async function commit(
                   dontAgree: false,
                   flag: false,
                 },
+                story: {
+                  id: input.storyID,
+                  settings: {
+                    live: {
+                      enabled: storySettings.live.enabled,
+                    },
+                  },
+                },
                 replies: {
                   edges: [],
                   pageInfo: { endCursor: null, hasNextPage: false },
diff --git a/src/core/client/stream/tabs/Comments/Stream/PostCommentForm/CreateCommentMutation.ts b/src/core/client/stream/tabs/Comments/Stream/PostCommentForm/CreateCommentMutation.ts
index 331003ca6..b434433eb 100644
--- a/src/core/client/stream/tabs/Comments/Stream/PostCommentForm/CreateCommentMutation.ts
+++ b/src/core/client/stream/tabs/Comments/Stream/PostCommentForm/CreateCommentMutation.ts
@@ -131,6 +131,15 @@ const mutation = graphql`
         node {
           ...AllCommentsTabContainer_comment @relay(mask: false)
           status
+          story {
+            settings {
+              # Load the story live settings so new comments can verify if live
+              # updates are still enabled (and enable then if they are).
+              live {
+                enabled
+              }
+            }
+          }
         }
       }
       clientMutationId
@@ -219,6 +228,14 @@ async function commit(
                   edges: [],
                   pageInfo: { endCursor: null, hasNextPage: false },
                 },
+                story: {
+                  id: input.storyID,
+                  settings: {
+                    live: {
+                      enabled: storySettings.live.enabled,
+                    },
+                  },
+                },
                 deleted: false,
               },
             },
diff --git a/src/core/client/stream/test/fixtures.ts b/src/core/client/stream/test/fixtures.ts
index 065875dcd..64b872b41 100644
--- a/src/core/client/stream/test/fixtures.ts
+++ b/src/core/client/stream/test/fixtures.ts
@@ -260,6 +260,41 @@ export const commenters = createFixtures<GQLUser>(
   baseUser
 );
 
+export const baseStory = createFixture<GQLStory>({
+  id: "story-0",
+  metadata: {
+    title: "title",
+  },
+  isClosed: false,
+  comments: {
+    edges: [],
+    pageInfo: {
+      hasNextPage: false,
+    },
+  },
+  commentCounts: {
+    totalPublished: 0,
+    tags: {
+      FEATURED: 0,
+      UNANSWERED: 0,
+    },
+  },
+  settings: {
+    moderation: GQLMODERATION_MODE.POST,
+    premodLinksEnable: false,
+    messageBox: {
+      enabled: false,
+    },
+    live: {
+      enabled: true,
+      configurable: true,
+    },
+    mode: GQLSTORY_MODE.COMMENTS,
+    experts: [],
+  },
+  site,
+});
+
 export const baseComment = createFixture<GQLComment>({
   author: commenters[0],
   body: "Comment Body",
@@ -279,6 +314,7 @@ export const baseComment = createFixture<GQLComment>({
       total: 0,
     },
   },
+  story: baseStory,
   parent: undefined,
   viewerActionPresence: { reaction: false, dontAgree: false, flag: false },
   tags: [],
@@ -514,40 +550,6 @@ export const commentWithDeepestReplies = denormalizeComment(
   })
 );
 
-export const baseStory = createFixture<GQLStory>({
-  metadata: {
-    title: "title",
-  },
-  isClosed: false,
-  comments: {
-    edges: [],
-    pageInfo: {
-      hasNextPage: false,
-    },
-  },
-  commentCounts: {
-    totalPublished: 0,
-    tags: {
-      FEATURED: 0,
-      UNANSWERED: 0,
-    },
-  },
-  settings: {
-    moderation: GQLMODERATION_MODE.POST,
-    premodLinksEnable: false,
-    messageBox: {
-      enabled: false,
-    },
-    live: {
-      enabled: true,
-      configurable: true,
-    },
-    mode: GQLSTORY_MODE.COMMENTS,
-    experts: [],
-  },
-  site,
-});
-
 export const moderators = createFixtures<GQLUser>(
   [
     {
diff --git a/src/core/server/config.ts b/src/core/server/config.ts
index c1b421e1c..a0703bdef 100644
--- a/src/core/server/config.ts
+++ b/src/core/server/config.ts
@@ -217,6 +217,13 @@ const config = convict({
     default: false,
     env: "DISABLE_LIVE_UPDATES",
   },
+  disable_live_updates_timeout: {
+    doc:
+      "Disables subscriptions for the comment stream for all stories across all tenants where a comment has not been left within the timeout",
+    format: "ms",
+    default: "2 weeks",
+    env: "DISABLE_LIVE_UPDATES_TIMEOUT",
+  },
   disable_client_routes: {
     doc:
       "Disables mounting of client routes for developing with Webpack Dev Server",
diff --git a/src/core/server/graph/resolvers/LiveConfiguration.ts b/src/core/server/graph/resolvers/LiveConfiguration.ts
index 667e173fc..23e3ea355 100644
--- a/src/core/server/graph/resolvers/LiveConfiguration.ts
+++ b/src/core/server/graph/resolvers/LiveConfiguration.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
 import { isUndefined } from "lodash";
+import { DateTime } from "luxon";
 
-import { GQLLiveConfigurationTypeResolver } from "coral-server/graph/schema/__generated__/types";
 import * as settings from "coral-server/models/settings";
 
-export type LiveConfigurationInput = settings.LiveConfiguration;
+import { GQLLiveConfigurationTypeResolver } from "coral-server/graph/schema/__generated__/types";
+
+export interface LiveConfigurationInput extends settings.LiveConfiguration {
+  lastCommentedAt?: Date;
+  createdAt?: Date;
+}
 
 export const LiveConfiguration: GQLLiveConfigurationTypeResolver<LiveConfigurationInput> = {
   configurable: (source, args, ctx) =>
@@ -13,6 +18,32 @@ export const LiveConfiguration: GQLLiveConfigurationTypeResolver<LiveConfigurati
       return false;
     }
 
+    // This typecast is needed because the custom `ms` format does not return the
+    // desired `number` type even though that's the only type it can output.
+    const disableLiveUpdatesTimeout = (ctx.config.get(
+      "disable_live_updates_timeout"
+    ) as unknown) as number;
+    if (disableLiveUpdatesTimeout > 0) {
+      // If one of these is available, use it to determine the time since the
+      // last comment.
+      const lastCommentedAt = source.lastCommentedAt || source.createdAt;
+      if (
+        // If a date is found...
+        lastCommentedAt &&
+        // And the date (when we add the timeout duration) is before the current
+        // date...
+        DateTime.fromJSDate(lastCommentedAt)
+          .plus({
+            milliseconds: disableLiveUpdatesTimeout,
+          })
+          .toJSDate() <= ctx.now
+      ) {
+        // Then we know that the last comment (or lack there of) was left more
+        // than the timeout specified in configuration.
+        return false;
+      }
+    }
+
     if (isUndefined(source.enabled)) {
       return ctx.tenant.live.enabled;
     }
diff --git a/src/core/server/graph/resolvers/Story.ts b/src/core/server/graph/resolvers/Story.ts
index 4e4c028d0..8e8309194 100644
--- a/src/core/server/graph/resolvers/Story.ts
+++ b/src/core/server/graph/resolvers/Story.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import {
 
 import { CommentCountsInput } from "./CommentCounts";
 import { storyModerationInputResolver } from "./ModerationQueues";
+import { StorySettingsInput } from "./StorySettings";
 
 export const Story: GQLStoryTypeResolver<story.Story> = {
   comments: (s, input, ctx) => ctx.loaders.Comments.forStory(s.id, input),
@@ -26,7 +27,16 @@ export const Story: GQLStoryTypeResolver<story.Story> = {
   commentCounts: (s): CommentCountsInput => s,
   // Merge tenant settings into the story settings so we can easily inherit the
   // options if they exist.
-  settings: (s, input, ctx) => defaultsDeep({}, s.settings, ctx.tenant),
+  settings: (s, input, ctx): StorySettingsInput =>
+    defaultsDeep(
+      {
+        // Pass these options as required by StorySettingsInput.
+        lastCommentedAt: s.lastCommentedAt,
+        createdAt: s.createdAt,
+      },
+      s.settings,
+      ctx.tenant
+    ),
   moderationQueues: storyModerationInputResolver,
   site: (s, input, ctx) => ctx.loaders.Sites.site.load(s.siteID),
 };
diff --git a/src/core/server/graph/resolvers/StorySettings.ts b/src/core/server/graph/resolvers/StorySettings.ts
index 024711504..d0100efb4 100644
--- a/src/core/server/graph/resolvers/StorySettings.ts
+++ b/src/core/server/graph/resolvers/StorySettings.ts
@@ -7,8 +7,21 @@ import {
   GQLStorySettingsTypeResolver,
 } from "../schema/__generated__/types";
 
-export const StorySettings: GQLStorySettingsTypeResolver<story.StorySettings> = {
-  live: (s) => s.live || {},
+import { LiveConfigurationInput } from "./LiveConfiguration";
+
+export interface StorySettingsInput extends story.StorySettings {
+  lastCommentedAt?: Date;
+  createdAt?: Date;
+}
+
+export const StorySettings: GQLStorySettingsTypeResolver<StorySettingsInput> = {
+  live: (s): LiveConfigurationInput => ({
+    // Live may not be available sometimes, fix it here with the inline ||.
+    ...(s.live || { enabled: false }),
+    // Pass these options as required by LiveConfigurationInput.
+    lastCommentedAt: s.lastCommentedAt,
+    createdAt: s.createdAt,
+  }),
   moderation: (s, input, ctx) => s.moderation || ctx.tenant.moderation,
   premodLinksEnable: (s, input, ctx) =>
     s.premodLinksEnable || ctx.tenant.premodLinksEnable,
diff --git a/src/core/server/models/story/index.ts b/src/core/server/models/story/index.ts
index 817c7d738..24779814d 100644
--- a/src/core/server/models/story/index.ts
+++ b/src/core/server/models/story/index.ts
@@ -48,11 +48,9 @@ export interface StreamModeSettings {
   expertIDs?: string[];
 }
 
-export type StorySettings = DeepPartial<
-  StreamModeSettings &
-    GlobalModerationSettings &
-    Pick<GQLStorySettings, "messageBox" | "mode" | "experts">
->;
+export type StorySettings = StreamModeSettings &
+  GlobalModerationSettings &
+  Pick<GQLStorySettings, "messageBox" | "mode" | "experts">;
 
 export type StoryMetadata = GQLStoryMetadata;
 
@@ -83,7 +81,7 @@ export interface Story extends TenantResource {
    * settings provides a point where the settings can be overridden for a
    * specific Story.
    */
-  settings: StorySettings;
+  settings: DeepPartial<StorySettings>;
 
   /**
    * closedAt is the date that the Story was forced closed at, or false to
@@ -378,7 +376,7 @@ export async function updateStory(
     throw err;
   }
 }
-export type UpdateStorySettingsInput = StorySettings;
+export type UpdateStorySettingsInput = DeepPartial<StorySettings>;
 
 export async function updateStorySettings(
   mongo: Db,