diff --git a/auth/auth.go b/auth/auth.go
index 3651fa92..07a9ddab 100644
--- a/auth/auth.go
+++ b/auth/auth.go
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ type Auth interface {
 	// Generate a new account
 	Generate(id string, opts ...GenerateOption) (*Account, error)
 	// Verify an account has access to a resource using the rules
-	Verify(acc *Account, res *Resource) error
+	Verify(acc *Account, res *Resource, opts ...VerifyOption) error
 	// Inspect a token
 	Inspect(token string) (*Account, error)
 	// Token generated using refresh token or credentials
diff --git a/auth/default.go b/auth/default.go
index 11f9e6ae..ac0ae534 100644
--- a/auth/default.go
+++ b/auth/default.go
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ func (n *noop) Rules() ([]*Rule, error) {
 }
 
 // Verify an account has access to a resource
-func (n *noop) Verify(acc *Account, res *Resource) error {
+func (n *noop) Verify(acc *Account, res *Resource, opts ...VerifyOption) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
diff --git a/auth/jwt/jwt.go b/auth/jwt/jwt.go
index 2397586f..4dafc7e3 100644
--- a/auth/jwt/jwt.go
+++ b/auth/jwt/jwt.go
@@ -99,10 +99,16 @@ func (j *jwt) Revoke(rule *auth.Rule) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (j *jwt) Verify(acc *auth.Account, res *auth.Resource) error {
+func (j *jwt) Verify(acc *auth.Account, res *auth.Resource, opts ...auth.VerifyOption) error {
 	j.Lock()
 	defer j.Unlock()
-	return rules.Verify(j.options.Namespace, j.rules, acc, res)
+
+	options := auth.VerifyOptions{Scope: j.options.Namespace}
+	for _, o := range opts {
+		o(&options)
+	}
+
+	return rules.Verify(options.Scope, j.rules, acc, res)
 }
 
 func (j *jwt) Rules() ([]*auth.Rule, error) {
diff --git a/auth/options.go b/auth/options.go
index a498bb37..2dd6cc48 100644
--- a/auth/options.go
+++ b/auth/options.go
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ type GenerateOptions struct {
 	Metadata map[string]string
 	// Roles/scopes associated with the account
 	Roles []string
-	// Scopes the account hasaccess too
+	// Scopes the account has access too
 	Scopes []string
 	// Provider of the account, e.g. oauth
 	Provider string
@@ -233,3 +233,16 @@ func NewTokenOptions(opts ...TokenOption) TokenOptions {
 
 	return options
 }
+
+type VerifyOptions struct {
+	Scope string
+}
+
+type VerifyOption func(o *VerifyOptions)
+
+// WithScope to require when verifying
+func WithScope(s string) VerifyOption {
+	return func(o *VerifyOptions) {
+		o.Scope = s
+	}
+}
diff --git a/auth/rules/rules.go b/auth/rules/rules.go
index 35736a8b..c3e96fa9 100644
--- a/auth/rules/rules.go
+++ b/auth/rules/rules.go
@@ -12,12 +12,6 @@ import (
 // access an error will be returned. If there are no rules provided which match the resource, an error
 // will be returned
 func Verify(namespace string, rules []*auth.Rule, acc *auth.Account, res *auth.Resource) error {
-	// ensure the account has the necessary scope. Some rules allow for public access so we don't
-	// error if the account is nil.
-	if acc != nil && !acc.HasScope("namespace."+namespace) {
-		return fmt.Errorf("Missing required scope: %v", "namespace."+namespace)
-	}
-
 	// the rule is only to be applied if the type matches the resource or is catch-all (*)
 	validTypes := []string{"*", res.Type}
 
@@ -37,6 +31,7 @@ func Verify(namespace string, rules []*auth.Rule, acc *auth.Account, res *auth.R
 	// filter the rules to the ones which match the criteria above
 	filteredRules := make([]*auth.Rule, 0)
 	for _, rule := range rules {
+		fmt.Printf("All rules: %v\n", rule.ID)
 		if !include(validTypes, rule.Resource.Type) {
 			continue
 		}
@@ -63,8 +58,8 @@ func Verify(namespace string, rules []*auth.Rule, acc *auth.Account, res *auth.R
 			return nil
 		}
 
-		// all furter checks require an account
-		if acc == nil {
+		// all further checks require an account within the current scope
+		if acc == nil || !acc.HasScope("namespace", namespace) {
 			continue
 		}
 
diff --git a/auth/service/service.go b/auth/service/service.go
index 7f31b5a4..621e5fb7 100644
--- a/auth/service/service.go
+++ b/auth/service/service.go
@@ -119,11 +119,17 @@ func (s *svc) Rules() ([]*auth.Rule, error) {
 }
 
 // Verify an account has access to a resource
-func (s *svc) Verify(acc *auth.Account, res *auth.Resource) error {
+func (s *svc) Verify(acc *auth.Account, res *auth.Resource, opts ...auth.VerifyOption) error {
+	options := auth.VerifyOptions{Scope: s.options.Namespace}
+	for _, o := range opts {
+		o(&options)
+	}
+
 	// load the rules if none are loaded
 	s.loadRulesIfEmpty()
+
 	// verify the request using the rules
-	return rules.Verify(s.options.Namespace, s.rules, acc, res)
+	return rules.Verify(options.Scope, s.rules, acc, res)
 }
 
 // Inspect a token