diff --git a/index.ts b/index.ts
index a24e833..fcf062f 100644
--- a/index.ts
+++ b/index.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ export { checkPcbTracesOutOfBoard } from "./lib/check-trace-out-of-board/checkTr
 export { checkPcbComponentOverlap } from "./lib/check-pcb-components-overlap/checkPcbComponentOverlap"
 export { checkPadPadClearance } from "./lib/check-pad-pad-clearance"
 export { checkPadTraceClearance } from "./lib/check-pad-trace-clearance"
+export { checkViaPadClearance } from "./lib/check-via-pad-clearance"
 export { checkViaTraceClearance } from "./lib/check-via-trace-clearance"
 export { checkPinMustBeConnected } from "./lib/check-pin-must-be-connected"
 export { checkAllPinsInComponentAreUnderspecified } from "./lib/check-all-pins-in-component-are-underspecified"
diff --git a/lib/check-pad-clearance/common.ts b/lib/check-pad-clearance/common.ts
index 5596e7b..b66ab66 100644
--- a/lib/check-pad-clearance/common.ts
+++ b/lib/check-pad-clearance/common.ts
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ export const getPadRadius = (pad: PadElement) => {
 
 export const isCircularPad = (pad: PadElement) => pad.shape === "circle"
 
-const getCircleShape = (pad: PadElement) => {
+export const getCircleShape = (pad: PadElement) => {
   const center = getPadCenter(pad)
   return {
     kind: "circle" as const,
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ const getCircleShape = (pad: PadElement) => {
   }
 }
 
-const getPolygonShape = (pad: PadElement) => {
+export const getPolygonShape = (pad: PadElement) => {
   const bounds = getPadBounds(pad)
   return {
     kind: "polygon" as const,
diff --git a/lib/check-via-pad-clearance.ts b/lib/check-via-pad-clearance.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..29d924e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/check-via-pad-clearance.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
+import {
+  getPrimaryId,
+  getReadableNameForElement,
+} from "@tscircuit/circuit-json-util"
+import {
+  distanceBetweenCircleAndCircle,
+  distanceBetweenCircleAndPolygon,
+} from "@tscircuit/circuit-json-util"
+import type { AnyCircuitElement, PcbVia } from "circuit-json"
+import {
+  type ConnectivityMap,
+  getFullConnectivityMapFromCircuitJson,
+} from "circuit-json-to-connectivity-map"
+import { SpatialObjectIndex } from "lib/data-structures/SpatialIndex"
+import { EPSILON, getBoardDrcValue, getPcbBoard } from "lib/drc-defaults"
+import { getLayersOfPcbElement } from "lib/util/getLayersOfPcbElement"
+import {
+  type PadElement,
+  formatMm,
+  getCircleShape,
+  getPadBounds,
+  getPadCenter,
+  getPads,
+  isCircularPad,
+  getPolygonShape,
+} from "./check-pad-clearance/common"
+import { jlcMinTolerances } from "@tscircuit/jlcpcb-manufacturing-specs"
+
+/**
+ * Error emitted when a via is closer to a pad than the allowed clearance.
+ *
+ * `circuit-json` does not yet define a dedicated `pcb_via_pad_clearance_error`
+ * type, so it is declared locally. Promoting it to `circuit-json` would be a
+ * natural follow-up.
+ */
+export interface PcbViaPadClearanceError {
+  type: "pcb_via_pad_clearance_error"
+  pcb_via_pad_clearance_error_id: string
+  error_type: "pcb_via_pad_clearance_error"
+  message: string
+  pcb_via_id: string
+  pcb_pad_id: string
+  minimum_clearance: number
+  actual_clearance: number
+  center: { x: number; y: number }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Minimum edge-to-edge distance between a via (treated as a circle of
+ * outer_diameter) and a pad. Uses `getBoundsOfPcbElements` for the pad
+ * so that all pad shapes (circle, rect, pill, rotated_pill, polygon, etc.)
+ * are handled correctly - the pad is conservatively approximated as either
+ * a circle or an axis-aligned bounding-box polygon.
+ */
+const getViaToPadGap = (
+  via: PcbVia,
+  pad: PadElement,
+): number => {
+  const viaCircle = {
+    kind: "circle" as const,
+    x: via.x,
+    y: via.y,
+    radius: via.outer_diameter / 2,
+  }
+
+  if (isCircularPad(pad)) {
+    return distanceBetweenCircleAndCircle(viaCircle, getCircleShape(pad))
+  }
+
+  return distanceBetweenCircleAndPolygon(viaCircle, getPolygonShape(pad))
+}
+
+/**
+ * Checks that vias are not placed too close to pads (SMT pads and plated
+ * holes). A via connected to the same net as the pad is ignored.
+ */
+export function checkViaPadClearance(
+  circuitJson: AnyCircuitElement[],
+  {
+    connMap,
+    minClearance,
+  }: { connMap?: ConnectivityMap; minClearance?: number } = {},
+): PcbViaPadClearanceError[] {
+  const vias = circuitJson.filter((el) => el.type === "pcb_via") as PcbVia[]
+  const pads = getPads(circuitJson)
+  if (vias.length === 0 || pads.length === 0) return []
+
+  const board = getPcbBoard(circuitJson)
+  minClearance ??=
+    getBoardDrcValue(board, "min_pad_edge_to_pad_edge_clearance") ??
+    jlcMinTolerances.min_pad_edge_to_pad_edge_clearance
+  connMap ??= getFullConnectivityMapFromCircuitJson(circuitJson)
+
+  const spatialIndex = new SpatialObjectIndex<PadElement>({
+    objects: pads,
+    getBounds: getPadBounds,
+    getId: (pad) => getPrimaryId(pad),
+  })
+
+  const errors = new Map<
+    string,
+    { error: PcbViaPadClearanceError; gap: number }
+  >()
+
+  for (const via of vias) {
+    const viaLayers = getLayersOfPcbElement(via)
+    const viaBounds = {
+      minX: via.x - via.outer_diameter / 2,
+      minY: via.y - via.outer_diameter / 2,
+      maxX: via.x + via.outer_diameter / 2,
+      maxY: via.y + via.outer_diameter / 2,
+    }
+    const nearbyPads = spatialIndex.getObjectsInBounds(
+      viaBounds,
+      minClearance,
+    )
+
+    for (const pad of nearbyPads) {
+      const padId = getPrimaryId(pad)
+
+      // Only compare elements that share at least one copper layer.
+      const padLayers = getLayersOfPcbElement(pad as any)
+      if (!viaLayers.some((layer) => padLayers.includes(layer))) continue
+
+      // A via intentionally connected to the pad's net is not a violation.
+      if (connMap.areIdsConnected(via.pcb_via_id, padId)) continue
+
+      const gap = getViaToPadGap(via, pad)
+      if (gap + EPSILON >= minClearance!) continue
+
+      const pairId = `${via.pcb_via_id}_${padId}`
+      const padCenter = getPadCenter(pad)
+      const nextError: PcbViaPadClearanceError = {
+        type: "pcb_via_pad_clearance_error",
+        pcb_via_pad_clearance_error_id: `via_pad_clearance_${pairId}`,
+        error_type: "pcb_via_pad_clearance_error",
+        message: `Via ${getReadableNameForElement(circuitJson, via.pcb_via_id)} and pad ${getReadableNameForElement(circuitJson, padId)} are too close (clearance: ${formatMm(gap)}, minimum: ${formatMm(minClearance!)})`,
+        pcb_via_id: via.pcb_via_id,
+        pcb_pad_id: padId,
+        minimum_clearance: minClearance!,
+        actual_clearance: gap,
+        center: {
+          x: (via.x + padCenter.x) / 2,
+          y: (via.y + padCenter.y) / 2,
+        },
+      }
+
+      const current = errors.get(pairId)
+      if (!current || gap < current.gap) {
+        errors.set(pairId, { error: nextError, gap })
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  return Array.from(errors.values()).map(({ error }) => error)
+}
diff --git a/lib/run-all-checks.ts b/lib/run-all-checks.ts
index ec5aa16..f7b7241 100644
--- a/lib/run-all-checks.ts
+++ b/lib/run-all-checks.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import { checkSameNetViaSpacing } from "./check-same-net-via-spacing"
 import { checkSourceTracesHavePcbTraces } from "./check-source-traces-have-pcb-traces"
 import { checkPcbTracesOutOfBoard } from "./check-trace-out-of-board/checkTraceOutOfBoard"
 import { checkTracesAreContiguous } from "./check-traces-are-contiguous/check-traces-are-contiguous"
+import { checkViaPadClearance } from "./check-via-pad-clearance"
 import { checkViaTraceClearance } from "./check-via-trace-clearance"
 
 export async function runAllPlacementChecks(circuitJson: AnyCircuitElement[]) {
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@ export async function runAllRoutingChecks(circuitJson: AnyCircuitElement[]) {
     ...checkEachPcbPortConnectedToPcbTraces(circuitJson),
     ...checkSourceTracesHavePcbTraces(circuitJson),
     ...checkEachPcbTraceNonOverlapping(circuitJson),
+    ...checkViaPadClearance(circuitJson),
     ...checkViaTraceClearance(circuitJson),
     ...checkSameNetViaSpacing(circuitJson),
     ...checkDifferentNetViaSpacing(circuitJson),
diff --git a/tests/lib/check-via-pad-clearance.test.ts b/tests/lib/check-via-pad-clearance.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..33a0037
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/lib/check-via-pad-clearance.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,148 @@
+import { expect, test } from "bun:test"
+import type { AnyCircuitElement } from "circuit-json"
+import { checkViaPadClearance } from "../../lib/check-via-pad-clearance"
+
+const makeBoard = (): AnyCircuitElement =>
+  ({
+    type: "pcb_board",
+    pcb_board_id: "board1",
+    width: 100,
+    height: 100,
+    x: 0,
+    y: 0,
+  }) as AnyCircuitElement
+
+const makeVia = (id: string, x: number, y: number): AnyCircuitElement =>
+  ({
+    type: "pcb_via",
+    pcb_via_id: id,
+    x,
+    y,
+    outer_diameter: 1.0,
+    hole_diameter: 0.4,
+    layers: ["top", "bottom"],
+  }) as AnyCircuitElement
+
+const makeCirclePad = (id: string, x: number, y: number): AnyCircuitElement =>
+  ({
+    type: "pcb_smtpad",
+    pcb_smtpad_id: id,
+    pcb_component_id: "comp1",
+    pcb_port_id: `port_${id}`,
+    shape: "circle",
+    x,
+    y,
+    radius: 0.5,
+    layer: "top",
+  }) as AnyCircuitElement
+
+const makeRectPad = (id: string, x: number, y: number): AnyCircuitElement =>
+  ({
+    type: "pcb_smtpad",
+    pcb_smtpad_id: id,
+    pcb_component_id: "comp1",
+    pcb_port_id: `port_${id}`,
+    shape: "rect",
+    x,
+    y,
+    width: 1.0,
+    height: 1.0,
+    layer: "top",
+  }) as AnyCircuitElement
+
+const makePlatedHole = (id: string, x: number, y: number): AnyCircuitElement =>
+  ({
+    type: "pcb_plated_hole",
+    pcb_plated_hole_id: id,
+    pcb_component_id: "comp1",
+    pcb_port_id: `port_${id}`,
+    shape: "circle",
+    x,
+    y,
+    hole_diameter: 0.8,
+    outer_diameter: 1.2,
+    layers: ["top", "bottom"],
+  }) as AnyCircuitElement
+
+test("via too close to circle pad should produce error", () => {
+  const circuitJson: AnyCircuitElement[] = [
+    makeBoard(),
+    makeVia("via1", 0, 0),
+    // via radius=0.5, pad radius=0.5, distance=1.05 => gap=0.05mm < 0.1mm default
+    makeCirclePad("pad1", 1.05, 0),
+  ]
+  const errors = checkViaPadClearance(circuitJson)
+  expect(errors.length).toBeGreaterThan(0)
+  expect(errors[0].type).toBe("pcb_via_pad_clearance_error")
+  expect(errors[0].pcb_via_id).toBe("via1")
+  expect(errors[0].pcb_pad_id).toBe("pad1")
+})
+
+test("via far from pad should not produce error", () => {
+  const circuitJson: AnyCircuitElement[] = [
+    makeBoard(),
+    makeVia("via1", 0, 0),
+    makeCirclePad("pad1", 10, 0),
+  ]
+  const errors = checkViaPadClearance(circuitJson)
+  expect(errors.length).toBe(0)
+})
+
+test("via too close to rect pad should produce error", () => {
+  const circuitJson: AnyCircuitElement[] = [
+    makeBoard(),
+    makeVia("via1", 0, 0),
+    // via radius=0.5, rect half-width=0.5, center at 1.04
+    // rect nearest edge at x=0.54, gap≈0.04mm < 0.1mm default
+    makeRectPad("pad1", 1.04, 0),
+  ]
+  const errors = checkViaPadClearance(circuitJson)
+  expect(errors.length).toBeGreaterThan(0)
+})
+
+test("via too close to plated hole should produce error", () => {
+  const circuitJson: AnyCircuitElement[] = [
+    makeBoard(),
+    makeVia("via1", 0, 0),
+    // via radius=0.5, plated_hole outer radius=0.6, distance=1.14
+    // gap=1.14-0.5-0.6=0.04mm < 0.1mm default
+    makePlatedHole("ph1", 1.14, 0),
+  ]
+  const errors = checkViaPadClearance(circuitJson)
+  expect(errors.length).toBeGreaterThan(0)
+})
+
+test("custom minClearance is respected", () => {
+  const circuitJson: AnyCircuitElement[] = [
+    makeBoard(),
+    makeVia("via1", 0, 0),
+    makeCirclePad("pad1", 3, 0), // gap = 3 - 0.5 - 0.5 = 2.0mm (passes default)
+  ]
+  // Default clearance (~0.1mm) should pass
+  const defaultErrors = checkViaPadClearance(circuitJson)
+  expect(defaultErrors.length).toBe(0)
+
+  // Very large minClearance should fail
+  const customErrors = checkViaPadClearance(circuitJson, {
+    minClearance: 5,
+  })
+  expect(customErrors.length).toBeGreaterThan(0)
+})
+
+test("no vias returns empty", () => {
+  const circuitJson: AnyCircuitElement[] = [
+    makeBoard(),
+    makeCirclePad("pad1", 0, 0),
+  ]
+  const errors = checkViaPadClearance(circuitJson)
+  expect(errors.length).toBe(0)
+})
+
+test("no pads returns empty", () => {
+  const circuitJson: AnyCircuitElement[] = [
+    makeBoard(),
+    makeVia("via1", 0, 0),
+  ]
+  const errors = checkViaPadClearance(circuitJson)
+  expect(errors.length).toBe(0)
+})