diff --git a/OpenNest.Core/ClampZone.cs b/OpenNest.Core/ClampZone.cs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..43f15fb4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/OpenNest.Core/ClampZone.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+using System;
+using OpenNest.Geometry;
+
+namespace OpenNest
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// A fixed rectangular keep-out region in plate coordinates (the sheet's own frame:
+    /// origin at the plate corner, X along the edge, Y depth from it). Machine edge clamps
+    /// are the first users; a future "don't cut here" tag is another entry of this shape.
+    /// Zones are exclusion and display only - never material, quantity, utilization,
+    /// cut sequence or CNC output. Rectangles only: axis-aligned by construction.
+    /// </summary>
+    public sealed class ClampZone
+    {
+        public ClampZone(string id, Box bounds)
+        {
+            ArgumentException.ThrowIfNullOrWhiteSpace(id);
+            ArgumentNullException.ThrowIfNull(bounds);
+            if (
+                !double.IsFinite(bounds.X)
+                || !double.IsFinite(bounds.Y)
+                || !double.IsFinite(bounds.Length)
+                || !double.IsFinite(bounds.Width)
+            )
+                throw new ArgumentException(
+                    $"Clamp zone '{id}' bounds must have finite coordinates and size.",
+                    nameof(bounds)
+                );
+            if (bounds.Length <= 0 || bounds.Width <= 0)
+                throw new ArgumentException(
+                    $"Clamp zone '{id}' must have a positive length (X) and width (Y).",
+                    nameof(bounds)
+                );
+
+            Id = id;
+            // Detached copy: the zone owns its rectangle, callers may keep mutating theirs.
+            Bounds = new Box(bounds.X, bounds.Y, bounds.Length, bounds.Width);
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>Stable identifier used by persistence and diagnostics.</summary>
+        public string Id { get; }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// The rectangle in plate coordinates: Length is the extent along X, Width the
+        /// extent along Y (depth from the y = 0 operator-side edge for machine clamps).
+        /// </summary>
+        public Box Bounds { get; }
+
+        public override string ToString() =>
+            $"ClampZone '{Id}' [{Bounds.Left:R}, {Bounds.Bottom:R}] x {Bounds.Length:R} x {Bounds.Width:R}";
+    }
+}
diff --git a/OpenNest.Core/Plate.cs b/OpenNest.Core/Plate.cs
index 0f3cf969..c441d961 100644
--- a/OpenNest.Core/Plate.cs
+++ b/OpenNest.Core/Plate.cs
@@ -55,6 +55,10 @@ namespace OpenNest
             Parts.ItemAdded += Parts_PartAdded;
             Parts.ItemRemoved += Parts_PartRemoved;
             CutOffs = new ObservableList<CutOff>();
+            ClampZones = new ObservableList<ClampZone>();
+            ClampZones.ItemAdded += (_, _) => OnClampZonesChanged();
+            ClampZones.ItemRemoved += (_, _) => OnClampZonesChanged();
+            ClampZones.ItemChanged += (_, _) => OnClampZonesChanged();
             Quadrant = 1;
         }
 
@@ -102,6 +106,22 @@ namespace OpenNest
         /// </summary>
         public ObservableList<CutOff> CutOffs { get; set; }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Fixed rectangular machine-clamp keep-outs in plate coordinates
+        /// (<see cref="ClampZone"/>). Never parts: excluded from quantity, utilization,
+        /// cut sequence and CNC output; placement rules and display consume them. Mutate
+        /// through this list; <see cref="ClampZonesChanged"/> fires for every change.
+        /// </summary>
+        public ObservableList<ClampZone> ClampZones { get; }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Raised after <see cref="ClampZones"/> content changes so views can refresh
+        /// the zone overlay. Carries no geometry arguments.
+        /// </summary>
+        public event EventHandler? ClampZonesChanged;
+
+        private void OnClampZonesChanged() => ClampZonesChanged?.Invoke(this, EventArgs.Empty);
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Regenerates all cut-off drawings and materializes them as parts.
         /// Existing cut-off parts are removed first, then each cut-off is
diff --git a/OpenNest.Tests/ClampZoneTests.cs b/OpenNest.Tests/ClampZoneTests.cs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e720f927
--- /dev/null
+++ b/OpenNest.Tests/ClampZoneTests.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,133 @@
+using OpenNest.CNC;
+using OpenNest.Geometry;
+
+namespace OpenNest.Tests;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Rectangular machine-clamp keep-out zones: a first-class rectangle on the plate,
+/// never a part. Zones are exclusion and display only - quantity, utilization and
+/// cut accounting must never see them.
+/// </summary>
+public class ClampZoneTests
+{
+    private static ClampZone Valid(string id = "clamp-1") =>
+        new(id, new Box(5.25, 0, 1.5, 0.625));
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void ZoneCarriesIdAndBounds()
+    {
+        var zone = Valid();
+        Assert.Equal("clamp-1", zone.Id);
+        Assert.Equal(5.25, zone.Bounds.X);
+        Assert.Equal(0, zone.Bounds.Y);
+        Assert.Equal(1.5, zone.Bounds.Length);
+        Assert.Equal(0.625, zone.Bounds.Width);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void ZoneOwnsADetachedCopyOfItsBounds()
+    {
+        var bounds = new Box(5.25, 0, 1.5, 0.625);
+        var zone = new ClampZone("clamp", bounds);
+        bounds.Offset(100, 100);
+        Assert.Equal(5.25, zone.Bounds.X);
+        Assert.Equal(0, zone.Bounds.Y);
+    }
+
+    [Theory]
+    [InlineData(double.NaN, 0, 1.5, 0.625)]
+    [InlineData(0, double.PositiveInfinity, 1.5, 0.625)]
+    [InlineData(0, 0, double.NaN, 0.625)]
+    [InlineData(0, 0, 1.5, 0)]          // zero-size zone keeps out nothing
+    [InlineData(0, 0, -1.5, 0.625)]     // negative size is not a rectangle
+    [InlineData(0, 0, 1.5, -0.625)]
+    public void MalformedBoundsAreRejected(double x, double y, double length, double width)
+    {
+        Assert.Throws<ArgumentException>(() => new ClampZone("clamp", new Box(x, y, length, width)));
+    }
+
+    [Theory]
+    [InlineData("")]
+    [InlineData("   ")]
+    [InlineData(null)]
+    public void MissingIdIsRejected(string? id)
+    {
+        Assert.ThrowsAny<ArgumentException>(
+            () => new ClampZone(id!, new Box(0, 0, 1.5, 0.625))
+        );
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void NullBoundsRejected()
+    {
+        Assert.Throws<ArgumentNullException>(() => new ClampZone("clamp", null!));
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void PlateStartsEmptyAndKeepsIndependentLists()
+    {
+        var a = new Plate(48, 96);
+        var b = new Plate(48, 96);
+        Assert.Empty(a.ClampZones);
+        a.ClampZones.Add(Valid());
+        Assert.Single(a.ClampZones);
+        Assert.Empty(b.ClampZones);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void ZoneChangesRaiseClampZonesChanged()
+    {
+        var plate = new Plate(48, 96);
+        var raised = 0;
+        plate.ClampZonesChanged += (_, _) => raised++;
+
+        var zone = Valid();
+        plate.ClampZones.Add(zone);
+        Assert.Equal(1, raised);
+
+        plate.ClampZones.Remove(zone);
+        Assert.Equal(2, raised);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void ZonesAreInvisibleToQuantityAndUtilization()
+    {
+        var plate = new Plate(48, 96) { Quantity = 1 };
+        for (var i = 0; i < 8; i++)
+            plate.ClampZones.Add(new ClampZone($"clamp-{i}", new Box(i * 2.0, 0, 1.5, 0.625)));
+
+        var drawing = MakeRectDrawing(10, 5);
+        drawing.Quantity.Required = 4;
+        var part = new Part(drawing);
+        plate.Parts.Add(part);
+
+        // The single placed part accounts exactly as it does on a plate without clamps.
+        Assert.Equal(1, drawing.Quantity.Nested);
+        Assert.Single(plate.Parts); // clamp zones never enter Parts
+        Assert.Equal(drawing.Area / plate.Area(), plate.Utilization(), 9);
+
+        plate.Parts.Remove(part);
+        Assert.Equal(0, drawing.Quantity.Nested);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void ZonesNeverEnterCutSequenceOrPartList()
+    {
+        var plate = new Plate(48, 96);
+        plate.ClampZones.Add(Valid());
+        Assert.All(plate.Parts, p => Assert.False(p.BaseDrawing.IsCutOff));
+        Assert.Empty(plate.Parts);
+        Assert.DoesNotContain(plate.ClampZones, z => ReferenceEquals(z, null));
+    }
+
+    private static Drawing MakeRectDrawing(double length, double width)
+    {
+        var pgm = new Program();
+        pgm.Codes.Add(new RapidMove(new Vector(0, 0)));
+        pgm.Codes.Add(new LinearMove(new Vector(length, 0)));
+        pgm.Codes.Add(new LinearMove(new Vector(length, width)));
+        pgm.Codes.Add(new LinearMove(new Vector(0, width)));
+        pgm.Codes.Add(new LinearMove(new Vector(0, 0)));
+        return new Drawing("rect", pgm);
+    }
+}