diff --git a/bun.lockb b/bun.lockb
index 44db4f8..3e694fd 100755
Binary files a/bun.lockb and b/bun.lockb differ
diff --git a/packages/doorman-api/.env.example b/packages/doorman-api/.env.example
index 7971b45..b88411b 100644
--- a/packages/doorman-api/.env.example
+++ b/packages/doorman-api/.env.example
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ AUTH_TOKEN=
 # aws stuff
 AWS_ACCESS_KEY=
 AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY=
+# AWS_ENDPOINT for local dev
 
 # discord notifs
 DISCORD_BOT_TOKEN=
diff --git a/packages/doorman-api/package.json b/packages/doorman-api/package.json
index df280a5..ab42150 100644
--- a/packages/doorman-api/package.json
+++ b/packages/doorman-api/package.json
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
     "start-twilio": "twilio-run --load-local-env --live --port 8080",
     "watch-build": "bun run --watch src/index.ts",
     "start": "concurrently \"bun run watch-build\" \"bun run start-twilio\"",
+    "local-db": "bun run --watch src/local/localDdb.ts",
+    "start:local-db": "concurrently \"bun run local-db\" \"bun run start\"",
     "build": "bun run src/index.ts",
     "deploy": "twilio-run promote --from=staging --to=prod --load-system-env --env .env.example",
     "deploy:staging": "twilio-run deploy --load-system-env --env .env.example --service-name doorman --environment=staging --override-existing-project"
@@ -30,8 +32,9 @@
     "zod_utilz": "^0.8.4"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
-    "twilio-run": "^3.5.4",
-    "concurrently": "^9.1.2"
+    "concurrently": "^9.1.2",
+    "dynamodb-local": "^0.0.35",
+    "twilio-run": "^3.5.4"
   },
   "engines": {
     "node": "22"
diff --git a/packages/doorman-api/src/local/localDdb.ts b/packages/doorman-api/src/local/localDdb.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..34f0a9c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/doorman-api/src/local/localDdb.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+import { CreateTableCommand, DynamoDBClient, KeyType, PutItemCommand, ScalarAttributeType } from "@aws-sdk/client-dynamodb";
+import { DynamoDBDocument } from "@aws-sdk/lib-dynamodb";
+import { DoorAlias, DoorAliasEntity, DoorAliasSchema, getDoorAliasID } from "../schema/DoorAlias";
+import { DoorConfig } from "../schema/DoorConfig";
+
+import DynamoDbLocal from "dynamodb-local";
+import { sleep } from "bun";
+
+console.log("starting local DDB");
+
+const localDdb = await DynamoDbLocal.launch(5000, null, [], true, true);
+
+process.on("SIGINT", async code => {
+  console.log("exiting DDB local");
+  await DynamoDbLocal.stopChild(localDdb);
+});
+
+// wait 5s so we are available
+await sleep(5_000);
+
+// seed ddb
+const client = new DynamoDBClient({
+  endpoint: 'http://localhost:5000',
+});
+
+const tableName = "doorman";
+
+const createTableCommand = new CreateTableCommand({
+  TableName: tableName,
+  KeySchema: [
+    { AttributeName: 'PK', KeyType: KeyType.HASH },
+    { AttributeName: 'SK', KeyType: KeyType.RANGE }
+  ],
+  AttributeDefinitions: [
+    { AttributeName: 'PK', AttributeType: ScalarAttributeType.S },
+    { AttributeName: 'SK', AttributeType: ScalarAttributeType.S }
+  ],
+  ProvisionedThroughput: {
+    ReadCapacityUnits: 5,
+    WriteCapacityUnits: 5
+  },
+});
+
+try {
+  await client.send(createTableCommand);
+} catch (e) {
+  console.error("failed creating table", e);
+}
+
+const document = DynamoDBDocument.from(client, {
+  marshallOptions: {
+    removeUndefinedValues: true,
+  }
+});
+
+const testDoorBuzzer = "6133163433";
+const testDoorName = "test";
+const testDoorPin = "1234";
+
+const doorAlias: DoorAlias = {
+  PK: testDoorBuzzer,
+  SK: "alias",
+  name: testDoorName,
+};
+
+const doorConfig: DoorConfig = {
+  PK: "door-test",
+  SK: "config",
+  buzzer: testDoorBuzzer,
+  pressKey: "4",
+  discordUsers: [],
+  fallbackNumbers: [],
+  pin: testDoorPin,
+  buzzerCode: testDoorPin,
+  timeout: 60,
+  greeting: "test door",
+};
+
+try {
+  await document.put({
+    TableName: tableName,
+    Item: doorConfig,
+  });
+
+  await document.put({
+    TableName: tableName,
+    Item: doorAlias,
+  });
+} catch (e) {
+  console.error("failed seeding table", e);
+}
diff --git a/packages/doorman-api/src/utils/ddb.ts b/packages/doorman-api/src/utils/ddb.ts
index d23c970..b8d5854 100644
--- a/packages/doorman-api/src/utils/ddb.ts
+++ b/packages/doorman-api/src/utils/ddb.ts
@@ -3,8 +3,24 @@ import { DynaBridge } from "dynabridge";
 import { DoorConfigEntity, EditDoorConfigEntity, OnboardDoorConfigEntity } from "../schema/DoorConfig";
 import { DoorAliasEntity } from "../schema/DoorAlias";
 import { LockStatusEntity } from "../schema/LockStatus";
+import { DynamoDBClientConfig } from "@aws-sdk/client-dynamodb";
 
 export const createDynaBridgeClient = (context: TwilioContext) => {
+  let config: DynamoDBClientConfig = {
+    region: "us-east-1",
+    credentials: {
+      accessKeyId: context.AWS_ACCESS_KEY,
+      secretAccessKey: context.AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY,
+    },
+  };
+
+  // for local DDB
+  if (context.AWS_ENDPOINT) {
+    config = {
+      endpoint: context.AWS_ENDPOINT,
+    }
+  }
+
   // register all entities here
   return new DynaBridge({
     doorConfig: DoorConfigEntity,
@@ -26,11 +42,5 @@ export const createDynaBridgeClient = (context: TwilioContext) => {
       );
       return convertedObj;
     }
-  }, {
-    region: "us-east-1" ,
-    credentials: {
-      accessKeyId: context.AWS_ACCESS_KEY,
-      secretAccessKey: context.AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY,
-    },
-  });
+  }, config);
 };