diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index bf77294ce..870584995 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -2255,6 +2255,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "reqwest-retry",
  "reqwest-tracing",
  "serde",
+ "tokio",
  "tracing",
  "tracing-actix-web",
  "tracing-error",
@@ -2295,6 +2296,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "smart-default",
  "strum",
  "strum_macros",
+ "tokio",
  "tracing",
  "tracing-error",
  "typed-builder",
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 30d36e948..a888514f2 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -73,3 +73,4 @@ console-subscriber = { version = "0.1.8", optional = true }
 opentelemetry = { version = "0.17.0", features = ["rt-tokio"], optional = true }
 opentelemetry-otlp = { version = "0.10.0", optional = true }
 tracing-opentelemetry = { version = "0.17.2", optional = true }
+tokio = "1.21.2"
diff --git a/config/config.hjson b/config/config.hjson
index c26e52d4f..252fca250 100644
--- a/config/config.hjson
+++ b/config/config.hjson
@@ -2,8 +2,4 @@
 # https://join-lemmy.org/docs/en/administration/configuration.html
 {
   hostname: lemmy-alpha
-  database: {
-    # Username to connect to postgres
-    user: "&££%^!£*!:::!"£:!:"
-  }
 }
diff --git a/crates/api_crud/src/site/create.rs b/crates/api_crud/src/site/create.rs
index 7a9b04840..99d67e157 100644
--- a/crates/api_crud/src/site/create.rs
+++ b/crates/api_crud/src/site/create.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ use lemmy_api_common::{
   utils::{
     get_local_user_view_from_jwt,
     is_admin,
+    local_site_rate_limit_to_rate_limit_config,
     local_site_to_slur_regex,
     site_description_length_check,
   },
@@ -139,6 +140,13 @@ impl PerformCrud for CreateSite {
 
     let site_view = SiteView::read_local(context.pool()).await?;
 
+    let rate_limit_config =
+      local_site_rate_limit_to_rate_limit_config(&site_view.local_site_rate_limit);
+    context
+      .settings_updated_channel()
+      .send(rate_limit_config)
+      .await?;
+
     Ok(SiteResponse { site_view })
   }
 }
diff --git a/crates/api_crud/src/site/update.rs b/crates/api_crud/src/site/update.rs
index 5f22d9f2a..a4eba29bd 100644
--- a/crates/api_crud/src/site/update.rs
+++ b/crates/api_crud/src/site/update.rs
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ use lemmy_api_common::{
   utils::{
     get_local_user_view_from_jwt,
     is_admin,
+    local_site_rate_limit_to_rate_limit_config,
     local_site_to_slur_regex,
     site_description_length_check,
   },
@@ -176,6 +177,13 @@ impl PerformCrud for EditSite {
 
     let site_view = SiteView::read_local(context.pool()).await?;
 
+    let rate_limit_config =
+      local_site_rate_limit_to_rate_limit_config(&site_view.local_site_rate_limit);
+    context
+      .settings_updated_channel()
+      .send(rate_limit_config)
+      .await?;
+
     let res = SiteResponse { site_view };
 
     context.chat_server().do_send(SendAllMessage {
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/objects/mod.rs b/crates/apub/src/objects/mod.rs
index 1e2ac79b4..29f030aed 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/objects/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/objects/mod.rs
@@ -60,13 +60,12 @@ pub(crate) mod tests {
   use lemmy_db_schema::{source::secret::Secret, utils::build_db_pool_for_tests};
   use lemmy_utils::{
     error::LemmyError,
-    rate_limit::{rate_limiter::RateLimiter, RateLimit, RateLimitConfig},
+    rate_limit::{RateLimitCell, RateLimitConfig},
     settings::SETTINGS,
   };
   use lemmy_websocket::{chat_server::ChatServer, LemmyContext};
   use reqwest::{Client, Request, Response};
   use reqwest_middleware::{ClientBuilder, Middleware, Next};
-  use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
   use task_local_extensions::Extensions;
 
   struct BlockedMiddleware;
@@ -105,22 +104,25 @@ pub(crate) mod tests {
     }
 
     let rate_limit_config = RateLimitConfig::builder().build();
-
-    let rate_limiter = RateLimit {
-      rate_limiter: Arc::new(Mutex::new(RateLimiter::default())),
-      rate_limit_config,
-    };
+    let rate_limit_cell = RateLimitCell::new(rate_limit_config).await;
 
     let chat_server = ChatServer::startup(
       pool.clone(),
-      rate_limiter,
       |_, _, _, _| Box::pin(x()),
       |_, _, _, _| Box::pin(x()),
       client.clone(),
       settings.clone(),
       secret.clone(),
+      rate_limit_cell.clone(),
     )
     .start();
-    LemmyContext::create(pool, chat_server, client, settings, secret)
+    LemmyContext::create(
+      pool,
+      chat_server,
+      client,
+      settings,
+      secret,
+      rate_limit_cell.clone(),
+    )
   }
 }
diff --git a/crates/routes/src/images.rs b/crates/routes/src/images.rs
index 97134078b..716b18be8 100644
--- a/crates/routes/src/images.rs
+++ b/crates/routes/src/images.rs
@@ -13,13 +13,17 @@ use actix_web::{
 use futures::stream::{Stream, StreamExt};
 use lemmy_api_common::utils::get_local_user_view_from_jwt;
 use lemmy_db_schema::source::local_site::LocalSite;
-use lemmy_utils::{claims::Claims, rate_limit::RateLimit, REQWEST_TIMEOUT};
+use lemmy_utils::{claims::Claims, rate_limit::RateLimitCell, REQWEST_TIMEOUT};
 use lemmy_websocket::LemmyContext;
 use reqwest::Body;
 use reqwest_middleware::{ClientWithMiddleware, RequestBuilder};
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
-pub fn config(cfg: &mut web::ServiceConfig, client: ClientWithMiddleware, rate_limit: &RateLimit) {
+pub fn config(
+  cfg: &mut web::ServiceConfig,
+  client: ClientWithMiddleware,
+  rate_limit: &RateLimitCell,
+) {
   cfg
     .app_data(web::Data::new(client))
     .service(
diff --git a/crates/utils/Cargo.toml b/crates/utils/Cargo.toml
index 43cbd8bff..dd79fa84e 100644
--- a/crates/utils/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/utils/Cargo.toml
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ rosetta-i18n = "0.1.2"
 parking_lot = "0.12.1"
 typed-builder = "0.10.0"
 percent-encoding = "2.2.0"
+tokio = "1.21.2"
 
 [build-dependencies]
 rosetta-build = "0.1.2"
diff --git a/crates/utils/src/rate_limit/mod.rs b/crates/utils/src/rate_limit/mod.rs
index ed019255f..6dc9dcbef 100644
--- a/crates/utils/src/rate_limit/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/utils/src/rate_limit/mod.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use crate::{error::LemmyError, utils::get_ip, IpAddr};
 use actix_web::dev::{Service, ServiceRequest, ServiceResponse, Transform};
 use futures::future::{ok, Ready};
-use rate_limiter::{RateLimitType, RateLimiter};
+use rate_limiter::{RateLimitStorage, RateLimitType};
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use std::{
   future::Future,
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ use std::{
   sync::{Arc, Mutex},
   task::{Context, Poll},
 };
+use tokio::sync::{mpsc, mpsc::Sender, OnceCell};
 use typed_builder::TypedBuilder;
 
 pub mod rate_limiter;
@@ -55,65 +56,102 @@ pub struct RateLimitConfig {
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
-pub struct RateLimit {
-  // it might be reasonable to use a std::sync::Mutex here, since we don't need to lock this
-  // across await points
-  pub rate_limiter: Arc<Mutex<RateLimiter>>,
+struct RateLimit {
+  pub rate_limiter: RateLimitStorage,
   pub rate_limit_config: RateLimitConfig,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
-pub struct RateLimited {
-  rate_limiter: Arc<Mutex<RateLimiter>>,
-  rate_limit_config: RateLimitConfig,
+pub struct RateLimitedGuard {
+  rate_limit: Arc<Mutex<RateLimit>>,
   type_: RateLimitType,
 }
 
-pub struct RateLimitedMiddleware<S> {
-  rate_limited: RateLimited,
-  service: Rc<S>,
+/// Single instance of rate limit config and buckets, which is shared across all threads.
+#[derive(Clone)]
+pub struct RateLimitCell {
+  tx: Sender<RateLimitConfig>,
+  rate_limit: Arc<Mutex<RateLimit>>,
 }
 
-impl RateLimit {
-  pub fn message(&self) -> RateLimited {
+impl RateLimitCell {
+  /// Initialize cell if it wasnt initialized yet. Otherwise returns the existing cell.
+  pub async fn new(rate_limit_config: RateLimitConfig) -> &'static Self {
+    static LOCAL_INSTANCE: OnceCell<RateLimitCell> = OnceCell::const_new();
+    LOCAL_INSTANCE
+      .get_or_init(|| async {
+        let (tx, mut rx) = mpsc::channel::<RateLimitConfig>(4);
+        let rate_limit = Arc::new(Mutex::new(RateLimit {
+          rate_limiter: Default::default(),
+          rate_limit_config,
+        }));
+        let rate_limit2 = rate_limit.clone();
+        tokio::spawn(async move {
+          while let Some(r) = rx.recv().await {
+            rate_limit2
+              .lock()
+              .expect("Failed to lock rate limit mutex for updating")
+              .rate_limit_config = r;
+          }
+        });
+        RateLimitCell { tx, rate_limit }
+      })
+      .await
+  }
+
+  /// Call this when the config was updated, to update all in-memory cells.
+  pub async fn send(&self, config: RateLimitConfig) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
+    self.tx.send(config).await?;
+    Ok(())
+  }
+
+  pub fn message(&self) -> RateLimitedGuard {
     self.kind(RateLimitType::Message)
   }
 
-  pub fn post(&self) -> RateLimited {
+  pub fn post(&self) -> RateLimitedGuard {
     self.kind(RateLimitType::Post)
   }
 
-  pub fn register(&self) -> RateLimited {
+  pub fn register(&self) -> RateLimitedGuard {
     self.kind(RateLimitType::Register)
   }
 
-  pub fn image(&self) -> RateLimited {
+  pub fn image(&self) -> RateLimitedGuard {
     self.kind(RateLimitType::Image)
   }
 
-  pub fn comment(&self) -> RateLimited {
+  pub fn comment(&self) -> RateLimitedGuard {
     self.kind(RateLimitType::Comment)
   }
 
-  pub fn search(&self) -> RateLimited {
+  pub fn search(&self) -> RateLimitedGuard {
     self.kind(RateLimitType::Search)
   }
 
-  fn kind(&self, type_: RateLimitType) -> RateLimited {
-    RateLimited {
-      rate_limiter: self.rate_limiter.clone(),
-      rate_limit_config: self.rate_limit_config.clone(),
+  fn kind(&self, type_: RateLimitType) -> RateLimitedGuard {
+    RateLimitedGuard {
+      rate_limit: self.rate_limit.clone(),
       type_,
     }
   }
 }
 
-impl RateLimited {
+pub struct RateLimitedMiddleware<S> {
+  rate_limited: RateLimitedGuard,
+  service: Rc<S>,
+}
+
+impl RateLimitedGuard {
   /// Returns true if the request passed the rate limit, false if it failed and should be rejected.
   pub fn check(self, ip_addr: IpAddr) -> bool {
     // Does not need to be blocking because the RwLock in settings never held across await points,
     // and the operation here locks only long enough to clone
-    let rate_limit = self.rate_limit_config;
+    let mut guard = self
+      .rate_limit
+      .lock()
+      .expect("Failed to lock rate limit mutex for reading");
+    let rate_limit = &guard.rate_limit_config;
 
     let (kind, interval) = match self.type_ {
       RateLimitType::Message => (rate_limit.message, rate_limit.message_per_second),
@@ -123,13 +161,13 @@ impl RateLimited {
       RateLimitType::Comment => (rate_limit.comment, rate_limit.comment_per_second),
       RateLimitType::Search => (rate_limit.search, rate_limit.search_per_second),
     };
-    let mut limiter = self.rate_limiter.lock().expect("mutex poison error");
+    let limiter = &mut guard.rate_limiter;
 
     limiter.check_rate_limit_full(self.type_, &ip_addr, kind, interval)
   }
 }
 
-impl<S> Transform<S, ServiceRequest> for RateLimited
+impl<S> Transform<S, ServiceRequest> for RateLimitedGuard
 where
   S: Service<ServiceRequest, Response = ServiceResponse, Error = actix_web::Error> + 'static,
   S::Future: 'static,
diff --git a/crates/utils/src/rate_limit/rate_limiter.rs b/crates/utils/src/rate_limit/rate_limiter.rs
index 258d7704a..80148340a 100644
--- a/crates/utils/src/rate_limit/rate_limiter.rs
+++ b/crates/utils/src/rate_limit/rate_limiter.rs
@@ -21,11 +21,11 @@ pub(crate) enum RateLimitType {
 
 /// Rate limiting based on rate type and IP addr
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Default)]
-pub struct RateLimiter {
+pub struct RateLimitStorage {
   buckets: HashMap<RateLimitType, HashMap<IpAddr, RateLimitBucket>>,
 }
 
-impl RateLimiter {
+impl RateLimitStorage {
   fn insert_ip(&mut self, ip: &IpAddr) {
     for rate_limit_type in RateLimitType::iter() {
       if self.buckets.get(&rate_limit_type).is_none() {
diff --git a/crates/websocket/src/chat_server.rs b/crates/websocket/src/chat_server.rs
index 65ab4cbd7..d07f11bd1 100644
--- a/crates/websocket/src/chat_server.rs
+++ b/crates/websocket/src/chat_server.rs
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ use lemmy_db_schema::{
 use lemmy_utils::{
   error::LemmyError,
   location_info,
-  rate_limit::RateLimit,
+  rate_limit::RateLimitCell,
   settings::structs::Settings,
   ConnectionId,
   IpAddr,
@@ -76,9 +76,6 @@ pub struct ChatServer {
   /// The Secrets
   pub(super) secret: Secret,
 
-  /// Rate limiting based on rate type and IP addr
-  pub(super) rate_limiter: RateLimit,
-
   /// A list of the current captchas
   pub(super) captchas: Vec<CaptchaItem>,
 
@@ -87,6 +84,8 @@ pub struct ChatServer {
 
   /// An HTTP Client
   client: ClientWithMiddleware,
+
+  rate_limit_cell: RateLimitCell,
 }
 
 pub struct SessionInfo {
@@ -101,12 +100,12 @@ impl ChatServer {
   #![allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
   pub fn startup(
     pool: DbPool,
-    rate_limiter: RateLimit,
     message_handler: MessageHandlerType,
     message_handler_crud: MessageHandlerCrudType,
     client: ClientWithMiddleware,
     settings: Settings,
     secret: Secret,
+    rate_limit_cell: RateLimitCell,
   ) -> ChatServer {
     ChatServer {
       sessions: HashMap::new(),
@@ -116,13 +115,13 @@ impl ChatServer {
       user_rooms: HashMap::new(),
       rng: rand::thread_rng(),
       pool,
-      rate_limiter,
       captchas: Vec::new(),
       message_handler,
       message_handler_crud,
       client,
       settings,
       secret,
+      rate_limit_cell,
     }
   }
 
@@ -446,8 +445,6 @@ impl ChatServer {
     msg: StandardMessage,
     ctx: &mut Context<Self>,
   ) -> impl Future<Output = Result<String, LemmyError>> {
-    let rate_limiter = self.rate_limiter.clone();
-
     let ip: IpAddr = match self.sessions.get(&msg.id) {
       Some(info) => info.ip.to_owned(),
       None => IpAddr("blank_ip".to_string()),
@@ -459,9 +456,11 @@ impl ChatServer {
       client: self.client.to_owned(),
       settings: self.settings.to_owned(),
       secret: self.secret.to_owned(),
+      rate_limit_cell: self.rate_limit_cell.to_owned(),
     };
     let message_handler_crud = self.message_handler_crud;
     let message_handler = self.message_handler;
+    let rate_limiter = self.rate_limit_cell.clone();
     async move {
       let json: Value = serde_json::from_str(&msg.msg)?;
       let data = &json["data"].to_string();
diff --git a/crates/websocket/src/lib.rs b/crates/websocket/src/lib.rs
index 7f363b0b5..e73e784e2 100644
--- a/crates/websocket/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/websocket/src/lib.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ use actix::Addr;
 use lemmy_db_schema::{source::secret::Secret, utils::DbPool};
 use lemmy_utils::{
   error::LemmyError,
+  rate_limit::RateLimitCell,
   settings::{structs::Settings, SETTINGS},
 };
 use reqwest_middleware::ClientWithMiddleware;
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ pub struct LemmyContext {
   client: ClientWithMiddleware,
   settings: Settings,
   secret: Secret,
+  rate_limit_cell: RateLimitCell,
 }
 
 impl LemmyContext {
@@ -32,6 +34,7 @@ impl LemmyContext {
     client: ClientWithMiddleware,
     settings: Settings,
     secret: Secret,
+    settings_updated_channel: RateLimitCell,
   ) -> LemmyContext {
     LemmyContext {
       pool,
@@ -39,6 +42,7 @@ impl LemmyContext {
       client,
       settings,
       secret,
+      rate_limit_cell: settings_updated_channel,
     }
   }
   pub fn pool(&self) -> &DbPool {
@@ -56,6 +60,9 @@ impl LemmyContext {
   pub fn secret(&self) -> &Secret {
     &self.secret
   }
+  pub fn settings_updated_channel(&self) -> &RateLimitCell {
+    &self.rate_limit_cell
+  }
 }
 
 impl Clone for LemmyContext {
@@ -66,6 +73,7 @@ impl Clone for LemmyContext {
       client: self.client.clone(),
       settings: self.settings.clone(),
       secret: self.secret.clone(),
+      rate_limit_cell: self.rate_limit_cell.clone(),
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/crates/websocket/src/routes.rs b/crates/websocket/src/routes.rs
index e99e683eb..453a87b9e 100644
--- a/crates/websocket/src/routes.rs
+++ b/crates/websocket/src/routes.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ use crate::{
 use actix::prelude::*;
 use actix_web::{web, Error, HttpRequest, HttpResponse};
 use actix_web_actors::ws;
-use lemmy_utils::{rate_limit::RateLimit, utils::get_ip, ConnectionId, IpAddr};
+use lemmy_utils::{rate_limit::RateLimitCell, utils::get_ip, ConnectionId, IpAddr};
 use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
 use tracing::{debug, error, info};
 
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ pub async fn chat_route(
   req: HttpRequest,
   stream: web::Payload,
   context: web::Data<LemmyContext>,
-  rate_limiter: web::Data<RateLimit>,
+  rate_limiter: web::Data<RateLimitCell>,
 ) -> Result<HttpResponse, Error> {
   ws::start(
     WsSession {
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ struct WsSession {
   /// otherwise we drop connection.
   hb: Instant,
   /// A rate limiter for websocket joins
-  rate_limiter: RateLimit,
+  rate_limiter: RateLimitCell,
 }
 
 impl Actor for WsSession {
diff --git a/src/api_routes.rs b/src/api_routes.rs
index 006140262..02161121e 100644
--- a/src/api_routes.rs
+++ b/src/api_routes.rs
@@ -10,11 +10,11 @@ use lemmy_api_common::{
   websocket::*,
 };
 use lemmy_api_crud::PerformCrud;
-use lemmy_utils::rate_limit::RateLimit;
+use lemmy_utils::rate_limit::RateLimitCell;
 use lemmy_websocket::{routes::chat_route, LemmyContext};
 use serde::Deserialize;
 
-pub fn config(cfg: &mut web::ServiceConfig, rate_limit: &RateLimit) {
+pub fn config(cfg: &mut web::ServiceConfig, rate_limit: &RateLimitCell) {
   cfg.service(
     web::scope("/api/v3")
       // Websocket
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 5d1a3a1a7..f57aa5025 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ use lemmy_server::{
 };
 use lemmy_utils::{
   error::LemmyError,
-  rate_limit::{rate_limiter::RateLimiter, RateLimit},
+  rate_limit::RateLimitCell,
   settings::{structs::Settings, SETTINGS},
 };
 use lemmy_websocket::{chat_server::ChatServer, LemmyContext};
@@ -37,12 +37,7 @@ use reqwest::Client;
 use reqwest_middleware::ClientBuilder;
 use reqwest_retry::{policies::ExponentialBackoff, RetryTransientMiddleware};
 use reqwest_tracing::TracingMiddleware;
-use std::{
-  env,
-  sync::{Arc, Mutex},
-  thread,
-  time::Duration,
-};
+use std::{env, thread, time::Duration};
 use tracing_actix_web::TracingLogger;
 
 pub const MIGRATIONS: EmbeddedMigrations = embed_migrations!();
@@ -107,13 +102,7 @@ async fn main() -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
   // Set up the rate limiter
   let rate_limit_config =
     local_site_rate_limit_to_rate_limit_config(&site_view.local_site_rate_limit);
-
-  // TODO this isn't live-updating
-  // https://github.com/LemmyNet/lemmy/issues/2508
-  let rate_limiter = RateLimit {
-    rate_limiter: Arc::new(Mutex::new(RateLimiter::default())),
-    rate_limit_config,
-  };
+  let rate_limit_cell = RateLimitCell::new(rate_limit_config).await;
 
   println!(
     "Starting http server at {}:{}",
@@ -144,12 +133,12 @@ async fn main() -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
 
   let chat_server = ChatServer::startup(
     pool.clone(),
-    rate_limiter.clone(),
     |c, i, o, d| Box::pin(match_websocket_operation(c, i, o, d)),
     |c, i, o, d| Box::pin(match_websocket_operation_crud(c, i, o, d)),
     client.clone(),
     settings.clone(),
     secret.clone(),
+    rate_limit_cell.clone(),
   )
   .start();
 
@@ -162,15 +151,15 @@ async fn main() -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
       client.clone(),
       settings.to_owned(),
       secret.to_owned(),
+      rate_limit_cell.clone(),
     );
-    let rate_limiter = rate_limiter.clone();
     App::new()
-      .wrap(actix_web::middleware::Logger::default())
+      .wrap(middleware::Logger::default())
       .wrap(TracingLogger::<QuieterRootSpanBuilder>::new())
       .app_data(Data::new(context))
-      .app_data(Data::new(rate_limiter.clone()))
+      .app_data(Data::new(rate_limit_cell.clone()))
       // The routes
-      .configure(|cfg| api_routes::config(cfg, &rate_limiter))
+      .configure(|cfg| api_routes::config(cfg, rate_limit_cell))
       .configure(|cfg| {
         if federation_enabled {
           lemmy_apub::http::routes::config(cfg);
@@ -178,7 +167,7 @@ async fn main() -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
         }
       })
       .configure(feeds::config)
-      .configure(|cfg| images::config(cfg, pictrs_client.clone(), &rate_limiter))
+      .configure(|cfg| images::config(cfg, pictrs_client.clone(), rate_limit_cell))
       .configure(nodeinfo::config)
   })
   .bind((settings_bind.bind, settings_bind.port))?