create_repository

Create a new GitHub repository in your account or specified organization

SERVERGitHub SOURCEoci:ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server:1.3.0

Medium RISK CLASS

Category Write

Parameters 50 required

Recommended Rate-limitedsee the rule below

Registry record Grade D, identity verified Pull the record →

This record as markdown: /tools/github/create-repository.md

WHAT IT DOES

What create_repository does on GitHub

AI agents use create_repository to create or update resources in GitHub, usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your GitHub environment.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`name`	string	—	Repository name
`private`	boolean	—	Whether repo should be private
`autoInit`	boolean	—	Initialize with README
`description`	string	—	Repository description
`organization`	string	—	Organization to create the repository in (omit to create in your personal account)

Parameters from the server's own tool schema.

RISK

Why create_repository is rated Medium

This tool creates new repositories, which is a reversible write operation. It modifies the account state by adding a new resource but does not delete data (not Destructive) or involve financial transactions (not Financial).

From the tool's definition Tool name 'create_repository' and description 'Create a new GitHub repository in your account or specified organization' indicate creation of new data/resources.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs create_repository safely

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and GitHub, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For create_repository, this is the rule to start with:

create_repository Rate-limited

create_repository stays usable, but capped: an agent stuck in a loop can't make hundreds of changes a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "create_repository": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "create_repository_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

LIMIT THIS TOOL → Instant setup, no code required.

The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect GitHub, apply this rule, and every create_repository call is checked against it from then on.

FAQ

Questions about create_repository

What does the create_repository tool do? +

Create a new GitHub repository in your account or specified organization. It is categorised as a Write tool in the GitHub MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

What parameters does create_repository accept? +

create_repository accepts 5 parameters: name, private, autoInit, description, organization. The full parameter table on this page comes from the server's own tool schema.

How do I enforce a policy on create_repository? +

Register the GitHub MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for create_repository: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches GitHub. Nothing to install.

What risk level is create_repository? +

create_repository is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.

Can I rate-limit create_repository? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the create_repository rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.

How do I block create_repository completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for create_repository. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.

What MCP server provides create_repository? +

create_repository is provided by the GitHub MCP server (oci:ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server:1.3.0). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

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