diff --git a/.github/CODEOWNERS b/.github/CODEOWNERS
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2605b5d32
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/CODEOWNERS
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+# Reviewers for Dependabot PRs
+build.gradle  @sebastian-peter  @danielfeismann @staudtMarius
+
+# Reviewers for CI/CD related PRs
+.github/workflows/  @sebastian-peter  @PhilippSchmelter
diff --git a/.github/dependabot.yml b/.github/dependabot.yml
index 467a2f6b8..4dd23974a 100644
--- a/.github/dependabot.yml
+++ b/.github/dependabot.yml
@@ -7,12 +7,6 @@ updates:
     time: "04:00"
   open-pull-requests-limit: 10
   target-branch: dev
-  reviewers:
-  - t-ober
-  - staudtMarius
-  - sebastian-peter
-  - danielfeismann
-  - jo-bao
 
 - package-ecosystem: pip
   directory: "/docs/readthedocs"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/dependabot-auto-merge.yml b/.github/workflows/dependabot-auto-merge.yml
index aa7c41713..5ed781fd6 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/dependabot-auto-merge.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/dependabot-auto-merge.yml
@@ -16,6 +16,19 @@ jobs:
         with:
           github-token: "${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}"
 
+      - name: Check Snapshot
+        if: contains(steps.metadata.outputs.new-version, 'snap')
+        run: |
+          echo "::error::Snapshot versions are not allowed – workflow stopped."
+          exit 1 
+
+      - name: Approve the PR
+        if: steps.metadata.outputs.update-type == 'version-update:semver-patch'
+        run: gh pr review --approve "$PR_URL"
+        env:
+          PR_URL: ${{github.event.pull_request.html_url}}
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN}}
+
       - name: Enable auto-merge for Dependabot PRs
         if: steps.metadata.outputs.update-type == 'version-update:semver-patch'
         run: gh pr merge --auto --merge "$PR_URL"
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 064b97b1b..dd930a42b 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [Unreleased/Snapshot]
 
+### Changed
+- Updated dependabot workflow and added CODEOWNERS [#1328](https://github.com/ie3-institute/PowerSystemDataModel/issues/1328)
+
 ## [7.0.0] - 2025-05-08
 
 ### Added