diff --git a/src/rez/cli/build.py b/src/rez/cli/build.py
index 208bab9a5..f39057934 100644
--- a/src/rez/cli/build.py
+++ b/src/rez/cli/build.py
@@ -30,11 +30,13 @@ def setup_parser_common(parser):
     """Parser setup common to both rez-build and rez-release."""
     from rez.build_process import get_build_process_types
     from rez.build_system import get_valid_build_systems
+    from rez.config import config
     from rez.exceptions import PackageMetadataError
 
     process_types = get_build_process_types()
     parser.add_argument(
-        "--process", type=str, choices=process_types, default="local",
+        "--process", type=str, choices=process_types,
+        default=config.default_build_process,
         help="the build process to use (default: %(default)s).")
 
     # add build system choices valid for this package
diff --git a/src/rez/config.py b/src/rez/config.py
index e8542d1ed..a6a8515f2 100644
--- a/src/rez/config.py
+++ b/src/rez/config.py
@@ -397,6 +397,7 @@ def _parse_env_var(self, value):
     "release_packages_path":                        Str,
     "dot_image_format":                             Str,
     "build_directory":                              Str,
+    "default_build_process":                        Str,
     "documentation_url":                            Str,
     "suite_visibility":                             SuiteVisibility_,
     "rez_tools_visibility":                         RezToolsVisibility_,
diff --git a/src/rez/rezconfig.py b/src/rez/rezconfig.py
index d5366e974..b63ceb56f 100644
--- a/src/rez/rezconfig.py
+++ b/src/rez/rezconfig.py
@@ -861,6 +861,11 @@
 # leave this True.
 use_variant_shortlinks = True
 
+# Default build process to use during build/release.
+# Only 'local' build process is currently available,
+# see :gh-rez:`src/rezplugins/build_process`.
+default_build_process = "local"
+
 
 ###############################################################################
 # Suites