diff --git a/.changes/unreleased/Fixes-20230508-142518.yaml b/.changes/unreleased/Fixes-20230508-142518.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8b14ea53dae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changes/unreleased/Fixes-20230508-142518.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+kind: Fixes
+body: Do not rewrite manifest.json during 'docs serve' command
+time: 2023-05-08T14:25:18.376379-04:00
+custom:
+  Author: jtcohen6
+  Issue: "7553"
diff --git a/core/dbt/cli/main.py b/core/dbt/cli/main.py
index 22456c33194..4d89863c71d 100644
--- a/core/dbt/cli/main.py
+++ b/core/dbt/cli/main.py
@@ -289,13 +289,11 @@ def docs_generate(ctx, **kwargs):
 @requires.profile
 @requires.project
 @requires.runtime_config
-@requires.manifest
 def docs_serve(ctx, **kwargs):
     """Serve the documentation website for your project"""
     task = ServeTask(
         ctx.obj["flags"],
         ctx.obj["runtime_config"],
-        ctx.obj["manifest"],
     )
 
     results = task.run()