diff --git a/akka-bbb-apps/src/main/scala/org/bigbluebutton/core/apps/groupchats/SendGroupChatMessageMsgHdlr.scala b/akka-bbb-apps/src/main/scala/org/bigbluebutton/core/apps/groupchats/SendGroupChatMessageMsgHdlr.scala
index 929e91ae34..7f9a103701 100755
--- a/akka-bbb-apps/src/main/scala/org/bigbluebutton/core/apps/groupchats/SendGroupChatMessageMsgHdlr.scala
+++ b/akka-bbb-apps/src/main/scala/org/bigbluebutton/core/apps/groupchats/SendGroupChatMessageMsgHdlr.scala
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ trait SendGroupChatMessageMsgHdlr extends HandlerHelpers {
   def handle(msg: SendGroupChatMessageMsg, state: MeetingState2x,
              liveMeeting: LiveMeeting, bus: MessageBus): MeetingState2x = {
 
+    val chatDisabled: Boolean = liveMeeting.props.meetingProp.disabledFeatures.contains("chat")
     var chatLocked: Boolean = false
 
     for {
@@ -37,7 +38,7 @@ trait SendGroupChatMessageMsgHdlr extends HandlerHelpers {
       }
     }
 
-    if (!(applyPermissionCheck && chatLocked)) {
+    if (!chatDisabled && !(applyPermissionCheck && chatLocked)) {
       val newState = for {
         sender <- GroupChatApp.findGroupChatUser(msg.header.userId, liveMeeting.users2x)
         chat <- state.groupChats.find(msg.body.chatId)
diff --git a/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/startup/client/base.jsx b/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/startup/client/base.jsx
index 9f62ab5ee9..24bb3f9db7 100755
--- a/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/startup/client/base.jsx
+++ b/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/startup/client/base.jsx
@@ -24,9 +24,9 @@ import { layoutSelectInput, layoutDispatch } from '../../ui/components/layout/co
 import VideoService from '/imports/ui/components/video-provider/service';
 import DebugWindow from '/imports/ui/components/debug-window/component';
 import { ACTIONS, PANELS } from '../../ui/components/layout/enums';
+import { isChatEnabled } from '/imports/ui/services/features';
 
 const CHAT_CONFIG = Meteor.settings.public.chat;
-const CHAT_ENABLED = CHAT_CONFIG.enabled;
 const PUBLIC_CHAT_ID = CHAT_CONFIG.public_id;
 
 const BREAKOUT_END_NOTIFY_DELAY = 50;
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ class Base extends Component {
     if (sidebarContentPanel === PANELS.NONE || Session.equals('subscriptionsReady', true)) {
       if (!checkedUserSettings) {
         if (getFromUserSettings('bbb_show_participants_on_login', Meteor.settings.public.layout.showParticipantsOnLogin) && !deviceInfo.isPhone) {
-          if (CHAT_ENABLED && getFromUserSettings('bbb_show_public_chat_on_login', !Meteor.settings.public.chat.startClosed)) {
+          if (isChatEnabled() && getFromUserSettings('bbb_show_public_chat_on_login', !Meteor.settings.public.chat.startClosed)) {
             layoutContextDispatch({
               type: ACTIONS.SET_SIDEBAR_NAVIGATION_IS_OPEN,
               value: true,
diff --git a/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/components/breakout-room/message-form/component.jsx b/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/components/breakout-room/message-form/component.jsx
index ab87a9068d..2665dcbc87 100755
--- a/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/components/breakout-room/message-form/component.jsx
+++ b/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/components/breakout-room/message-form/component.jsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import deviceInfo from '/imports/utils/deviceInfo';
 import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
 import Styled from './styles';
 import { notify } from '/imports/ui/services/notification';
+import { isChatEnabled } from '/imports/ui/services/features';
 
 const propTypes = {
   intl: PropTypes.shape({
@@ -48,9 +49,6 @@ const messages = defineMessages({
   },
 });
 
-const CHAT_CONFIG = Meteor.settings.public.chat;
-const CHAT_ENABLED = CHAT_CONFIG.enabled;
-
 class MessageForm extends PureComponent {
   constructor(props) {
     super(props);
@@ -231,7 +229,7 @@ class MessageForm extends PureComponent {
 
     const { hasErrors, error, message } = this.state;
 
-    return CHAT_ENABLED ? (
+    return isChatEnabled() ? (
       <Styled.Form
         ref={(ref) => { this.form = ref; }}
         onSubmit={this.handleSubmit}
diff --git a/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/components/chat/message-form/component.jsx b/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/components/chat/message-form/component.jsx
index b39f580306..013bb29314 100755
--- a/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/components/chat/message-form/component.jsx
+++ b/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/components/chat/message-form/component.jsx
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
 import _ from 'lodash';
 import TypingIndicatorContainer from './typing-indicator/container';
 import Styled from './styles';
+import { isChatEnabled } from '/imports/ui/services/features';
 
 const propTypes = {
   intl: PropTypes.object.isRequired,
@@ -60,7 +61,6 @@ const messages = defineMessages({
 });
 
 const CHAT_CONFIG = Meteor.settings.public.chat;
-const CHAT_ENABLED = CHAT_CONFIG.enabled;
 
 class MessageForm extends PureComponent {
   constructor(props) {
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ class MessageForm extends PureComponent {
 
     const { hasErrors, error, message } = this.state;
 
-    return CHAT_ENABLED ? (
+    return isChatEnabled() ? (
       <Styled.Form
         ref={(ref) => { this.form = ref; }}
         onSubmit={this.handleSubmit}
diff --git a/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/components/lock-viewers/component.jsx b/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/components/lock-viewers/component.jsx
index 6521f8ecba..4b6cc95e6b 100755
--- a/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/components/lock-viewers/component.jsx
+++ b/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/components/lock-viewers/component.jsx
@@ -4,8 +4,7 @@ import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
 import Toggle from '/imports/ui/components/common/switch/component';
 import NotesService from '/imports/ui/components/notes/service';
 import Styled from './styles';
-
-const CHAT_ENABLED = Meteor.settings.public.chat.enabled;
+import { isChatEnabled } from '/imports/ui/services/features';
 
 const intlMessages = defineMessages({
   lockViewersTitle: {
@@ -252,7 +251,7 @@ class LockViewersComponent extends Component {
               </Styled.Col>
             </Styled.Row>
 
-            {CHAT_ENABLED ? (
+            {isChatEnabled() ? (
               <Fragment>
                 <Styled.Row>
                   <Styled.Col aria-hidden="true">
diff --git a/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/components/settings/submenus/notification/component.jsx b/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/components/settings/submenus/notification/component.jsx
index ebf5ed7b16..0a64a3de8a 100644
--- a/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/components/settings/submenus/notification/component.jsx
+++ b/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/components/settings/submenus/notification/component.jsx
@@ -3,8 +3,7 @@ import Toggle from '/imports/ui/components/common/switch/component';
 import { defineMessages, injectIntl } from 'react-intl';
 import BaseMenu from '../base/component';
 import Styled from './styles';
-
-const CHAT_ENABLED = Meteor.settings.public.chat.enabled;
+import { isChatEnabled } from '/imports/ui/services/features';
 
 const intlMessages = defineMessages({
   notificationSectionTitle: {
@@ -88,7 +87,7 @@ class NotificationMenu extends BaseMenu {
             </Styled.ColHeading>
           </Styled.Row>
 
-          {CHAT_ENABLED ? (
+          {isChatEnabled() ? (
             <Styled.Row>
               <Styled.Col>
                 <Styled.Label>
diff --git a/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/components/shortcut-help/component.jsx b/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/components/shortcut-help/component.jsx
index decab2c6c8..63e7397a93 100644
--- a/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/components/shortcut-help/component.jsx
+++ b/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/components/shortcut-help/component.jsx
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import Modal from '/imports/ui/components/common/modal/simple/component';
 import _ from 'lodash';
 import Styled from './styles';
 import withShortcutHelper from './service';
+import { isChatEnabled } from '/imports/ui/services/features';
 
 const intlMessages = defineMessages({
   title: {
@@ -99,9 +100,6 @@ const intlMessages = defineMessages({
   },
 });
 
-const CHAT_CONFIG = Meteor.settings.public.chat;
-const CHAT_ENABLED = CHAT_CONFIG.enabled;
-
 const ShortcutHelpComponent = (props) => {
   const { intl, shortcuts } = props;
   const { browserName } = browserInfo;
@@ -134,7 +132,7 @@ const ShortcutHelpComponent = (props) => {
   }
 
   const shortcutItems = shortcuts.map((shortcut) => {
-    if (!CHAT_ENABLED && shortcut.descId.indexOf('Chat') !== -1) return null;
+    if (!isChatEnabled() && shortcut.descId.indexOf('Chat') !== -1) return null;
     return (
       <tr key={_.uniqueId('hotkey-item-')}>
         <Styled.KeyCell>{`${accessMod} + ${shortcut.accesskey}`}</Styled.KeyCell>
diff --git a/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/components/subscriptions/component.jsx b/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/components/subscriptions/component.jsx
index f3f7588a29..994e829335 100755
--- a/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/components/subscriptions/component.jsx
+++ b/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/components/subscriptions/component.jsx
@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@ import {
   localUsersSync,
 } from '/client/collection-mirror-initializer';
 import SubscriptionRegistry, { subscriptionReactivity } from '../../services/subscription-registry/subscriptionRegistry';
+import { isChatEnabled } from '/imports/ui/services/features';
 
 const CHAT_CONFIG = Meteor.settings.public.chat;
-const CHAT_ENABLED = CHAT_CONFIG.enabled;
 const PUBLIC_GROUP_CHAT_ID = CHAT_CONFIG.public_group_id;
 const PUBLIC_CHAT_TYPE = CHAT_CONFIG.type_public;
 const TYPING_INDICATOR_ENABLED = CHAT_CONFIG.typingIndicator.enabled;
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ export default withTracker(() => {
   let subscriptionsHandlers = SUBSCRIPTIONS.map((name) => {
     let subscriptionHandlers = subscriptionErrorHandler;
     if ((!TYPING_INDICATOR_ENABLED && name.indexOf('typing') !== -1)
-      || (!CHAT_ENABLED && name.indexOf('chat') !== -1)) return null;
+      || (!isChatEnabled() && name.indexOf('chat') !== -1)) return null;
 
     if (name === 'users') {
       subscriptionHandlers = {
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ export default withTracker(() => {
   const ready = subscriptionsHandlers.every(handler => handler.ready());
   let groupChatMessageHandler = {};
 
-  if (CHAT_ENABLED && ready) {
+  if (isChatEnabled() && ready) {
     const chatsCount = GroupChat.find({
       $or: [
         {
diff --git a/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/components/user-list/user-list-content/component.jsx b/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/components/user-list/user-list-content/component.jsx
index 0f640b5969..7b5a1fcd8c 100755
--- a/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/components/user-list/user-list-content/component.jsx
+++ b/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/components/user-list/user-list-content/component.jsx
@@ -8,12 +8,12 @@ import UserCaptionsContainer from './user-captions/container';
 import WaitingUsersContainer from './waiting-users/container';
 import UserPollsContainer from './user-polls/container';
 import BreakoutRoomContainer from './breakout-room/container';
+import { isChatEnabled } from '/imports/ui/services/features';
 
 const propTypes = {
   currentUser: PropTypes.shape({}).isRequired,
 };
 
-const CHAT_ENABLED = Meteor.settings.public.chat.enabled;
 const ROLE_MODERATOR = Meteor.settings.public.user.role_moderator;
 
 class UserContent extends PureComponent {
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ class UserContent extends PureComponent {
 
     return (
       <Styled.Content data-test="userListContent">
-        {CHAT_ENABLED ? <UserMessagesContainer /> : null}
+        {isChatEnabled() ? <UserMessagesContainer /> : null}
         {currentUser.role === ROLE_MODERATOR ? <UserCaptionsContainer /> : null}
         <UserNotesContainer />
         {showWaitingRoom && currentUser.role === ROLE_MODERATOR
diff --git a/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/components/user-list/user-list-content/user-participants/user-list-item/component.jsx b/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/components/user-list/user-list-content/user-participants/user-list-item/component.jsx
index 30689612cb..b8b27d80d5 100644
--- a/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/components/user-list/user-list-content/user-participants/user-list-item/component.jsx
+++ b/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/components/user-list/user-list-content/user-participants/user-list-item/component.jsx
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import BBBMenu from '/imports/ui/components/common/menu/component';
 import Styled from './styles';
 import { PANELS, ACTIONS } from '../../../../layout/enums';
 import WhiteboardService from '/imports/ui/components/whiteboard/service';
+import { isChatEnabled } from '/imports/ui/services/features';
 
 const messages = defineMessages({
   presenter: {
@@ -169,7 +170,6 @@ const propTypes = {
   isMe: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
 };
 
-const CHAT_ENABLED = Meteor.settings.public.chat.enabled;
 const ROLE_MODERATOR = Meteor.settings.public.user.role_moderator;
 const LABEL = Meteor.settings.public.user.label;
 
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ class UserListItem extends PureComponent {
         icon: userIsPinned ? 'pin-video_off' : 'pin-video_on',
       },
       {
-        allowed: CHAT_ENABLED
+        allowed: isChatEnabled()
         && enablePrivateChat
         && !isDialInUser
         && !meetingIsBreakout
diff --git a/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/services/features/index.js b/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/services/features/index.js
index 2347c2ca04..821a14255a 100644
--- a/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/services/features/index.js
+++ b/bigbluebutton-html5/imports/ui/services/features/index.js
@@ -27,3 +27,7 @@ export function isPollingEnabled() {
 export function isExternalVideoEnabled() {
   return getDisabledFeatures().indexOf('externalVideos') === -1 && Meteor.settings.public.externalVideoPlayer.enabled;
 }
+
+export function isChatEnabled() {
+  return getDisabledFeatures().indexOf('chat') === -1 && Meteor.settings.public.chat.enabled;
+}
diff --git a/bigbluebutton-web/grails-app/conf/bigbluebutton.properties b/bigbluebutton-web/grails-app/conf/bigbluebutton.properties
index bab06edd54..4edcb6fca1 100755
--- a/bigbluebutton-web/grails-app/conf/bigbluebutton.properties
+++ b/bigbluebutton-web/grails-app/conf/bigbluebutton.properties
@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ endWhenNoModerator=false
 endWhenNoModeratorDelayInMinutes=1
 
 # List of features to disable (comma-separated)
-# Available options: externalVideos, learningDashboard, polls, screenshare
+# Available options: chat, externalVideos, learningDashboard, polls, screenshare
 #disabledFeatures=
 
 # Allow endpoint with current BigBlueButton version