diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index ae3ccd6a..c3b41639 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -31,6 +31,12 @@ DB_POOL_MAX=20
 DB_CONNECTION_TIMEOUT=5000
 DB_IDLE_TIMEOUT=30000
 
+# Database SSL Configuration (Required in production)
+# Path to CA certificate file for TLS verification
+# In production, this must be set to enable secure certificate validation
+# Example: /etc/ssl/certs/ca-bundle.crt or /path/to/ca.pem
+DB_SSL_CA=
+
 # SMS Integration (#448)
 # Provider selection: twilio | sns | vonage (default: twilio)
 SMS_PROVIDER=twilio
diff --git a/src/lib/db/pool.ts b/src/lib/db/pool.ts
index f1fc9dd8..dfa312fc 100644
--- a/src/lib/db/pool.ts
+++ b/src/lib/db/pool.ts
@@ -13,12 +13,38 @@ import { retryWithBackoff } from '@/utils/errorUtils';
  * - Query queueing during reconnect windows
  */
 
+/**
+ * Validate DB_SSL_CA is provided in production
+ */
+function validateSSLConfig(): void {
+  if (process.env.NODE_ENV === 'production' && !process.env.DB_SSL_CA) {
+    throw new Error(
+      'DB_SSL_CA environment variable is required in production. ' +
+        'This should contain the path to your CA certificate file.',
+    );
+  }
+}
+
+// Validate on module load
+validateSSLConfig();
+
+const getSSLConfig = () => {
+  if (process.env.NODE_ENV === 'production') {
+    return {
+      rejectUnauthorized: true,
+      ca: process.env.DB_SSL_CA,
+    };
+  }
+  // Allow unverified certificates in development
+  return false;
+};
+
 const DB_CONFIG: PoolConfig = {
   connectionString: process.env.DATABASE_URL,
   max: parseInt(process.env.DB_POOL_MAX || '20', 10),
   connectionTimeoutMillis: parseInt(process.env.DB_CONNECTION_TIMEOUT || '5000', 10),
   idleTimeoutMillis: parseInt(process.env.DB_IDLE_TIMEOUT || '30000', 10),
-  ssl: process.env.NODE_ENV === 'production' ? { rejectUnauthorized: false } : false,
+  ssl: getSSLConfig(),
 };
 
 type CircuitState = 'CLOSED' | 'OPEN';