diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e08a12127..d61916f0a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -68,12 +68,17 @@ Install dependencies:
 make install
 ```
 
-Download the latest CRE graph from upstream by running:
+Create the local schema and download the latest CRE graph from upstream:
 
 ```bash
+make migrate-upgrade
 make upstream-sync
 ```
 
+For contributors, this is the supported local data bootstrap path. You do
+**not** need access to the internal OpenCRE Google Sheet to work on the
+project.
+
 You can precompute local gap-analysis cache after imports with:
 
 ```bash
@@ -109,16 +114,33 @@ Notes:
 - `--csv` is required when using `--export`.
 - This mode exports report data from the OpenCRE API and does not mutate the local DB.
 
-To download a remote CRE spreadsheet locally you can run:
+Maintainer-only: if you need to add a remote spreadsheet to your local
+database, you can run:
 
 ```bash
-python cre.py --review --from_spreadsheet <google sheets url>
+python cre.py --add --from_spreadsheet <google sheets url>
 ```
 
-To add a remote spreadsheet to your local database you can run:
+Those spreadsheet commands are not required for ordinary contribution and local
+development. If you want to import your own mappings locally, use MyOpenCRE or
+the CSV import endpoint with imports enabled:
 
 ```bash
-python cre.py --add --from_spreadsheet <google sheets url>
+export CRE_ALLOW_IMPORT=true
+make start-containers
+```
+
+Then use:
+
+- `GET /rest/v1/cre_csv` to download a template
+- `POST /rest/v1/cre_csv_import` to upload your CSV after starting the local API
+- send the multipart file field as `cre_csv`
+
+Example, once `make dev-flask` is running:
+
+```bash
+curl -X POST http://localhost:5000/rest/v1/cre_csv_import \
+  -F cre_csv=@my_mappings.csv
 ```
 
 To run the web application for development you can run:
@@ -239,9 +261,13 @@ xcode-select --install
 Sync upstream CRE data (requires internet access):
 
 ```bash
+make migrate-upgrade
 make upstream-sync
 ```
 
+You do not need Google Sheet access for this workflow. `make upstream-sync`
+pulls the public OpenCRE graph into your local database.
+
 Then start the local server:
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/docs/developmentSetup.md b/docs/developmentSetup.md
index b51909c51..ad1d12982 100644
--- a/docs/developmentSetup.md
+++ b/docs/developmentSetup.md
@@ -109,7 +109,52 @@ If the tests pass, the project should be operational. You can run tests with
 
 ### Import the database
 
-You can run `make migrate-upgrade` first and then `make upstream-sync`
+For local development, you do **not** need access to the OpenCRE Google Sheet.
+That spreadsheet is part of the maintainer workflow for bulk standards imports.
+
+The supported contributor workflow is:
+
+1. create the local database schema
+2. sync the public OpenCRE graph from upstream
+3. import your own mappings locally through MyOpenCRE if needed
+
+Run:
+
+```bash
+make migrate-upgrade
+make upstream-sync
+```
+
+`make upstream-sync` downloads the OpenCRE graph from the public API into your
+local `standards_cache.sqlite`.
+
+If you want to map your own standard locally, enable imports and use MyOpenCRE
+or the CSV import endpoint:
+
+```bash
+export CRE_ALLOW_IMPORT=true
+make dev-flask
+```
+
+Then you can:
+
+- open the local MyOpenCRE UI
+- download a CSV template from `GET /rest/v1/cre_csv`
+- upload your CSV to `POST /rest/v1/cre_csv_import` after starting the local API
+- send the multipart file field as `cre_csv`
+
+Example, once `make dev-flask` is running:
+
+```bash
+curl -X POST http://localhost:5000/rest/v1/cre_csv_import \
+  -F cre_csv=@my_mappings.csv
+```
+
+Maintainer-only spreadsheet import example:
+
+```bash
+python cre.py --add --from_spreadsheet <google sheets url>
+```
 
 ## Running locally