diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/ads.py b/r2/r2/controllers/ads.py
index 873996c11..8240dab34 100644
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/ads.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/ads.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 from pylons import request, g
 from reddit_base import RedditController
 from r2.lib.pages import AdminPage, AdminAds, AdminAdAssign, AdminAdSRs
-from validator import *
+from r2.lib.validator import *
 
 class AdsController(RedditController):
 
diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/api.py b/r2/r2/controllers/api.py
index ad7c23610..3f6af6820 100755
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/api.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/api.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ from reddit_base import cross_domain, paginated_listing
 from pylons.i18n import _
 from pylons import c, request, response
 
-from validator import *
+from r2.lib.validator import *
 
 from r2.models import *
 
diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/api_docs.py b/r2/r2/controllers/api_docs.py
index 62496aee8..9d3d2544b 100644
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/api_docs.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/api_docs.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ from pylons.i18n import _
 from reddit_base import RedditController
 from r2.lib.utils import Storage
 from r2.lib.pages import BoringPage, ApiHelp
-from r2.controllers.validator import validate, VOneOf
+from r2.lib.validator import validate, VOneOf
 
 # API sections displayed in the documentation page.
 # Each section can have a title and a markdown-formatted description.
diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/awards.py b/r2/r2/controllers/awards.py
index 35e4ad88a..ec8a50ba0 100644
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/awards.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/awards.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ from pylons import request, g
 from reddit_base import RedditController
 from r2.lib.pages import AdminPage, AdminAwards
 from r2.lib.pages import AdminAwardGive, AdminAwardWinners
-from validator import *
+from r2.lib.validator import *
 
 class AwardsController(RedditController):
 
diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/buttons.py b/r2/r2/controllers/buttons.py
index 46f9f75b7..b8111b8c1 100644
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/buttons.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/buttons.py
@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@ from r2.lib.pages import (ButtonLite, ButtonDemoPanel, WidgetDemoPanel,
 from r2.lib.pages.things import wrap_links
 from r2.models import *
 from r2.lib.utils import tup
+from r2.lib.validator import *
 from pylons import c, request
-from validator import *
 from pylons.i18n import _
 
 class ButtonsController(RedditController):
diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/errorlog.py b/r2/r2/controllers/errorlog.py
index 697c040c9..95c7c6016 100644
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/errorlog.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/errorlog.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 from pylons import request, g
 from reddit_base import RedditController
 from r2.lib.pages import AdminPage, AdminErrorLog
-from validator import *
+from r2.lib.validator import validate, VAdmin
 
 class ErrorlogController(RedditController):
     @validate(VAdmin())
diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/front.py b/r2/r2/controllers/front.py
index 1d8a8f10e..404e765eb 100755
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/front.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/front.py
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@
 # Inc. All Rights Reserved.
 ###############################################################################
 
-from validator import *
 from pylons.i18n import _, ungettext
 from pylons.controllers.util import redirect_to
 from reddit_base import RedditController, base_listing, paginated_listing, prevent_framing_and_css
@@ -42,6 +41,7 @@ from r2.lib.db.tdb_cassandra import MultiColumnQuery
 from r2.lib.strings import strings
 from r2.lib.search import (SearchQuery, SubredditSearchQuery, SearchException,
                            InvalidQuery)
+from r2.lib.validator import *
 from r2.lib import jsontemplates
 from r2.lib import sup
 import r2.lib.db.thing as thing
diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/health.py b/r2/r2/controllers/health.py
index a8ebb9fe5..f8c7f25d4 100644
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/health.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/health.py
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@ from pylons import c, g, response
 
 from reddit_base import MinimalController
 from r2.lib.amqp import worker
+from r2.lib.validator import *
 from r2.lib import promote
 
-from validator import *
 
 class HealthController(MinimalController):
     def post(self):
diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/ipn.py b/r2/r2/controllers/ipn.py
index c6800e015..6dea8b27b 100644
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/ipn.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/ipn.py
@@ -29,9 +29,9 @@ from pylons.controllers.util import abort
 from pylons import c, g, response
 from pylons.i18n import _
 
-from validator import *
 from r2.models import *
 from r2.lib.utils import randstr
+from r2.lib.validator import *
 
 from reddit_base import RedditController
 
diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/listingcontroller.py b/r2/r2/controllers/listingcontroller.py
index 13c2a9d49..490919cba 100755
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/listingcontroller.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/listingcontroller.py
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@
 
 from oauth2 import OAuth2ResourceController, require_oauth2_scope
 from reddit_base import RedditController, base_listing, organic_pos
-from validator import *
 
 from r2.models import *
 from r2.models.query_cache import CachedQuery, MergedCachedQuery
@@ -42,6 +41,7 @@ import r2.lib.search as search
 from r2.lib.utils import iters, check_cheating, timeago
 from r2.lib import sup
 from r2.lib.promote import randomized_promotion_list
+from r2.lib.validator import *
 import socket
 
 from api_docs import api_doc, api_section
diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/mediaembed.py b/r2/r2/controllers/mediaembed.py
index 1c048e83f..62c0f7b4b 100644
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/mediaembed.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/mediaembed.py
@@ -20,11 +20,11 @@
 # Inc. All Rights Reserved.
 ###############################################################################
 
-from validator import *
 from reddit_base import MinimalController
 
 from r2.lib.scraper import get_media_embed
 from r2.lib.pages import MediaEmbedBody, render_ad, render_ad_by_codename
+from r2.lib.validator import *
 
 from pylons import request
 from pylons.controllers.util import abort
diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/oauth2.py b/r2/r2/controllers/oauth2.py
index 671a2f46c..9bf1a7e94 100644
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/oauth2.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/oauth2.py
@@ -35,12 +35,20 @@ from r2.models.token import (
     OAuth2Client, OAuth2AuthorizationCode, OAuth2AccessToken,
     OAuth2RefreshToken, OAuth2Scope)
 from r2.lib.errors import ForbiddenError, errors
-from validator import (
-    nop, validate, VRequired, VOneOf, VUser, VModhash, VOAuth2ClientID,
-    VOAuth2Scope, VOAuth2RefreshToken)
 from r2.lib.pages import OAuth2AuthorizationPage
 from r2.lib.require import RequirementException, require, require_split
 from r2.lib.utils import parse_http_basic
+from r2.lib.validator import (
+    nop,
+    validate,
+    VRequired,
+    VOneOf,
+    VUser,
+    VModhash,
+    VOAuth2ClientID,
+    VOAuth2Scope,
+    VOAuth2RefreshToken,
+)
 
 class OAuth2FrontendController(RedditController):
     def pre(self):
diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/post.py b/r2/r2/controllers/post.py
index 34fbba394..36dbb40ef 100644
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/post.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/post.py
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ from reddit_base import cross_domain
 from api import ApiController
 from r2.lib.utils import Storage, query_string, UrlParser
 from r2.lib.emailer import opt_in, opt_out
+from r2.lib.validator import *
 from pylons import request, c, g
-from validator import *
 from pylons.i18n import _
 from r2.models import *
 import hashlib
diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/promotecontroller.py b/r2/r2/controllers/promotecontroller.py
index dd1149f1e..7cbac6a8b 100644
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/promotecontroller.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/promotecontroller.py
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@
 
 import json
 
-from validator import *
 from pylons.i18n import _
 from r2.models import *
 from r2.lib.authorize import get_account_info, edit_profile, PROFILE_LIMIT
@@ -41,6 +40,7 @@ from r2.lib.media import force_thumbnail, thumbnail_url
 from r2.lib.scraper import MediaEmbed
 from r2.lib import cssfilter
 from r2.lib.system_messages import user_added_messages
+from r2.lib.validator import *
 from datetime import datetime
 
 class PromoteController(ListingController):
diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/querycontroller.py b/r2/r2/controllers/querycontroller.py
index 7672cf2fa..b35b7492c 100644
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/querycontroller.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/querycontroller.py
@@ -19,9 +19,11 @@
 # All portions of the code written by reddit are Copyright (c) 2006-2012 reddit
 # Inc. All Rights Reserved.
 ###############################################################################
+from pylons import g
+from pylons.controllers.util import abort
 
 from reddit_base import RedditController
-from validator import *
+from r2.lib.validator import nop, validate
 from r2.lib.db.queries import CachedResults
 
 import cPickle as pickle
diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/reddit_base.py b/r2/r2/controllers/reddit_base.py
index ccd025101..4746a35cb 100644
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/reddit_base.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/reddit_base.py
@@ -42,18 +42,6 @@ from pylons.i18n import _
 from pylons.i18n.translation import LanguageError
 
 from r2.config.extensions import is_api
-from r2.controllers.validator import (
-    build_arg_list,
-    chksrname,
-    fullname_regex,
-    valid_jsonp_callback,
-    validate,
-    VByName,
-    VCount,
-    VLength,
-    VLimit,
-    VTarget,
-)
 from r2.lib import filters, pages, utils
 from r2.lib.authentication import authenticate_user
 from r2.lib.base import BaseController
@@ -75,6 +63,18 @@ from r2.lib.utils import (
     is_subdomain,
     is_throttled,
 )
+from r2.lib.validator import (
+    build_arg_list,
+    chksrname,
+    fullname_regex,
+    valid_jsonp_callback,
+    validate,
+    VByName,
+    VCount,
+    VLength,
+    VLimit,
+    VTarget,
+)
 from r2.models import (
     All,
     check_request,
diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/redirect.py b/r2/r2/controllers/redirect.py
index 37a204ccc..729bd5e90 100644
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/redirect.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/redirect.py
@@ -19,11 +19,12 @@
 # All portions of the code written by reddit are Copyright (c) 2006-2012 reddit
 # Inc. All Rights Reserved.
 ###############################################################################
-
-from pylons.controllers.util import abort, redirect_to
-from r2.lib.base import BaseController
 from pylons import c
-from validator import chkuser, chksrname
+from pylons.controllers.util import abort, redirect_to
+
+from r2.lib.base import BaseController
+from r2.lib.validator import chkuser, chksrname
+
 
 class RedirectController(BaseController):
     def GET_redirect(self, dest):
diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/toolbar.py b/r2/r2/controllers/toolbar.py
index 7ce4de8c2..36035f5ca 100644
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/toolbar.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/toolbar.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ from r2.lib.filters import spaceCompress, safemarkdown
 from r2.lib.memoize import memoize
 from r2.lib.template_helpers import add_sr
 from r2.lib import utils
-from validator import *
+from r2.lib.validator import *
 from pylons import c, Response
 from r2.models.admintools import is_shamed_domain
 
diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/wiki.py b/r2/r2/controllers/wiki.py
index 7c10fee06..d771f05cf 100644
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/wiki.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/wiki.py
@@ -34,12 +34,26 @@ from r2.models.builder import WikiRevisionBuilder, WikiRecentRevisionBuilder
 from r2.lib.template_helpers import join_urls
 
 
-from r2.controllers.validator import VMarkdown, VModhash, VPrintable
+from r2.lib.validator import (
+    VExistingUname,
+    VInt,
+    VMarkdown,
+    VModhash,
+    VOneOf,
+    VPrintable,
+    VRatelimit,
+)
 
-from r2.controllers.validator.wiki import (VWikiPage, VWikiPageAndVersion,
-                                           VWikiModerator, VWikiPageRevise,
-                                           this_may_revise, this_may_view,
-                                           VWikiPageName, wiki_validate)
+from r2.lib.validator.wiki import (
+    VWikiPage,
+    VWikiPageAndVersion,
+    VWikiModerator,
+    VWikiPageRevise,
+    this_may_revise,
+    this_may_view,
+    VWikiPageName,
+    wiki_validate,
+)
 from r2.controllers.api_docs import api_doc, api_section
 from r2.lib.pages.wiki import (WikiPageView, WikiNotFound, WikiRevisions,
                               WikiEdit, WikiSettings, WikiRecent,
@@ -54,7 +68,6 @@ from r2.lib.pages.things import default_thing_wrapper
 from r2.lib.pages import BoringPage
 from reddit_base import base_listing
 from r2.models import IDBuilder, LinkListing, DefaultSR
-from validator.validator import VInt, VExistingUname, VRatelimit, VOneOf
 from r2.lib.merge import ConflictException, make_htmldiff
 from pylons.i18n import _
 from r2.lib.pages import PaneStack
diff --git a/r2/r2/lib/pages/wiki.py b/r2/r2/lib/pages/wiki.py
index d91f83161..28edb01f7 100644
--- a/r2/r2/lib/pages/wiki.py
+++ b/r2/r2/lib/pages/wiki.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ from r2.lib.pages.pages import Reddit
 from pylons import c
 from r2.lib.wrapped import Templated
 from r2.lib.menus import PageNameNav
-from r2.controllers.validator.wiki import this_may_revise
+from r2.lib.validator.wiki import this_may_revise
 from pylons.i18n import _
 
 class WikiView(Templated):
diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/validator/__init__.py b/r2/r2/lib/validator/__init__.py
similarity index 95%
rename from r2/r2/controllers/validator/__init__.py
rename to r2/r2/lib/validator/__init__.py
index b4aa2e4d6..b276579b7 100644
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/validator/__init__.py
+++ b/r2/r2/lib/validator/__init__.py
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@
 from validator import *
 
 try:
-    from r2admin.controllers.validator import *
+    from r2admin.lib.validator import *
 except ImportError:
     pass
-    
diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/validator/validator.py b/r2/r2/lib/validator/validator.py
similarity index 100%
rename from r2/r2/controllers/validator/validator.py
rename to r2/r2/lib/validator/validator.py
diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/validator/wiki.py b/r2/r2/lib/validator/wiki.py
similarity index 98%
rename from r2/r2/controllers/validator/wiki.py
rename to r2/r2/lib/validator/wiki.py
index 7003681c8..8c6c1d45f 100644
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/validator/wiki.py
+++ b/r2/r2/lib/validator/wiki.py
@@ -31,9 +31,12 @@ from pylons.controllers.util import redirect_to
 from pylons import c, g, request
 
 from r2.models.wiki import WikiPage, WikiRevision
-from r2.controllers.validator import (
-    Validator, validate, VSrModerator,
-    make_validated_kw, set_api_docs
+from r2.lib.validator import (
+    Validator,
+    validate,
+    VSrModerator,
+    make_validated_kw,
+    set_api_docs,
 )
 from r2.lib.db import tdb_cassandra