Techniques for intent-based access control are described. A method of intent-based access control may include receiving, via a user interface of an intent-based governance service, one or more intent statements associated with user resources in a provider network, the one or more intent statements expressing at least one type of action allowed to be performed on the user resources, compiling the one or more intent statements into at least one access control policy, and associating the at least one access control policy with the user resources.