diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 8c87ce0..ae1db4f 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -83,4 +83,7 @@ instance/
 # Sphinx documentation
 docs/_build/
 
+.envrc
+
+venv/
 .DS_Store
diff --git a/stackql_deploy/cmd/build.py b/stackql_deploy/cmd/build.py
index 1851ce1..8e3a4e6 100644
--- a/stackql_deploy/cmd/build.py
+++ b/stackql_deploy/cmd/build.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     run_ext_script,
     get_type
 )
-from ..lib.config import get_full_context
+from ..lib.config import get_full_context, render_value
 from ..lib.templating import get_queries
 from .base import StackQLBase
 
@@ -49,6 +49,23 @@ def run(self, dry_run, show_queries, on_failure):
             # get full context
             full_context = get_full_context(self.env, self.global_context, resource, self.logger)
 
+            # Check if the resource has an 'if' condition and evaluate it
+            if 'if' in resource:
+                condition = resource['if']
+                try:
+                    # Render the condition with the full context to resolve any template variables
+                    rendered_condition = render_value(self.env, condition, full_context, self.logger)
+                    # Evaluate the condition
+                    condition_result = eval(rendered_condition)
+                    if not condition_result:
+                        self.logger.info(f"skipping resource [{resource['name']}] due to condition: {condition}")
+                        continue
+                except Exception as e:
+                    catch_error_and_exit(
+                        f"error evaluating condition for resource [{resource['name']}]: {e}",
+                        self.logger
+                    )
+
             if type == 'script':
                 self.process_script_resource(resource, dry_run, full_context)
                 continue
diff --git a/stackql_deploy/cmd/teardown.py b/stackql_deploy/cmd/teardown.py
index 6aeda1c..17fd496 100644
--- a/stackql_deploy/cmd/teardown.py
+++ b/stackql_deploy/cmd/teardown.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     catch_error_and_exit,
     get_type
 )
-from ..lib.config import get_full_context
+from ..lib.config import get_full_context, render_value
 from ..lib.templating import get_queries
 from .base import StackQLBase
 
@@ -63,6 +63,23 @@ def run(self, dry_run, show_queries, on_failure):
             # get full context
             full_context = get_full_context(self.env, self.global_context, resource, self.logger)
 
+            # Check if the resource has an 'if' condition and evaluate it
+            if 'if' in resource:
+                condition = resource['if']
+                try:
+                    # Render the condition with the full context to resolve any template variables
+                    rendered_condition = render_value(self.env, condition, full_context, self.logger)
+                    # Evaluate the condition
+                    condition_result = eval(rendered_condition)
+                    if not condition_result:
+                        self.logger.info(f"skipping resource [{resource['name']}] due to condition: {condition}")
+                        continue
+                except Exception as e:
+                    catch_error_and_exit(
+                        f"error evaluating condition for resource [{resource['name']}]: {e}",
+                        self.logger
+                    )
+
             # add reverse export map variable to full context
             if 'exports' in resource:
                 for export in resource['exports']:
diff --git a/test-derek-aws/README.md b/test-derek-aws/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3c89eb3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test-derek-aws/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+# `stackql-deploy` starter project for `aws`
+
+> for starter projects using other providers, try `stackql-deploy test-derek-aws --provider=azure` or `stackql-deploy test-derek-aws --provider=google`
+
+see the following links for more information on `stackql`, `stackql-deploy` and the `aws` provider:
+
+- [`aws` provider docs](https://stackql.io/registry/aws)
+- [`stackql`](https://github.com/stackql/stackql)
+- [`stackql-deploy` PyPI home page](https://pypi.org/project/stackql-deploy/)
+- [`stackql-deploy` GitHub repo](https://github.com/stackql/stackql-deploy)
+
+## Overview
+
+__`stackql-deploy`__ is a stateless, declarative, SQL driven Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) framework.  There is no state file required as the current state is assessed for each resource at runtime.  __`stackql-deploy`__ is capable of provisioning, deprovisioning and testing a stack which can include resources across different providers, like a stack spanning `aws` and `azure` for example.  
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+This example requires `stackql-deploy` to be installed using __`pip install stackql-deploy`__.  The host used to run `stackql-deploy` needs the necessary environment variables set to authenticate to your specific provider, in the case of the `aws` provider, `AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID`, `AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY` and optionally `AWS_SESSION_TOKEN` must be set, for more information on authentication to `aws` see the [`aws` provider documentation](https://aws.stackql.io/providers/aws).
+
+## Usage
+
+Adjust the values in the [__`stackql_manifest.yml`__](stackql_manifest.yml) file if desired.  The [__`stackql_manifest.yml`__](stackql_manifest.yml) file contains resource configuration variables to support multiple deployment environments, these will be used for `stackql` queries in the `resources` folder.  
+
+The syntax for the `stackql-deploy` command is as follows:
+
+```bash
+stackql-deploy { build | test | teardown } { stack-directory } { deployment environment} [ optional flags ]
+``` 
+
+### Deploying a stack
+
+For example, to deploy the stack named test-derek-aws to an environment labeled `sit`, run the following:
+
+```bash
+stackql-deploy build test-derek-aws sit \
+-e AWS_REGION=ap-southeast-2
+```
+
+Use the `--dry-run` flag to view the queries to be run without actually running them, for example:
+
+```bash
+stackql-deploy build test-derek-aws sit \
+-e AWS_REGION=ap-southeast-2 \
+--dry-run
+```
+
+### Testing a stack
+
+To test a stack to ensure that all resources are present and in the desired state, run the following (in our `sit` deployment example):
+
+```bash
+stackql-deploy test test-derek-aws sit \
+-e AWS_REGION=ap-southeast-2
+```
+
+### Tearing down a stack
+
+To destroy or deprovision all resources in a stack for our `sit` deployment example, run the following:
+
+```bash
+stackql-deploy teardown test-derek-aws sit \
+-e AWS_REGION=ap-southeast-2
+```
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test-derek-aws/resources/example_vpc.iql b/test-derek-aws/resources/example_vpc.iql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..463dbc1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test-derek-aws/resources/example_vpc.iql
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+/* defines the provisioning and deprovisioning commands 
+used to create, update or delete the resource
+replace queries with your queries */
+
+/*+ exists */
+SELECT COUNT(*) as count FROM
+(
+SELECT vpc_id,
+json_group_object(tag_key, tag_value) as tags
+FROM aws.ec2.vpc_tags
+WHERE region = '{{ region }}'
+AND cidr_block = '{{ vpc_cidr_block }}'
+GROUP BY vpc_id
+HAVING json_extract(tags, '$.Provisioner') = 'stackql'
+AND json_extract(tags, '$.StackName') = '{{ stack_name }}'
+AND json_extract(tags, '$.StackEnv') = '{{ stack_env }}'
+) t; 
+
+/*+ create */
+INSERT INTO aws.ec2.vpcs (
+ CidrBlock,
+ Tags,
+ EnableDnsSupport,
+ EnableDnsHostnames, 
+ region
+)
+SELECT 
+ '{{ vpc_cidr_block }}',
+ '{{ vpc_tags }}',
+ true,
+ true,
+ '{{ region }}';
+
+/*+ statecheck, retries=5, retry_delay=5 */
+SELECT COUNT(*) as count FROM
+(
+SELECT vpc_id,
+cidr_block,
+json_group_object(tag_key, tag_value) as tags
+FROM aws.ec2.vpc_tags
+WHERE region = '{{ region }}'
+AND cidr_block = '{{ vpc_cidr_block }}'
+GROUP BY vpc_id
+HAVING json_extract(tags, '$.Provisioner') = 'stackql'
+AND json_extract(tags, '$.StackName') = '{{ stack_name }}'
+AND json_extract(tags, '$.StackEnv') = '{{ stack_env }}'
+) t
+WHERE cidr_block = '{{ vpc_cidr_block }}'; 
+
+/*+ exports, retries=5, retry_delay=5 */
+SELECT vpc_id, vpc_cidr_block FROM
+(
+SELECT vpc_id, cidr_block as "vpc_cidr_block",
+json_group_object(tag_key, tag_value) as tags
+FROM aws.ec2.vpc_tags
+WHERE region = '{{ region }}'
+AND cidr_block = '{{ vpc_cidr_block }}'
+GROUP BY vpc_id
+HAVING json_extract(tags, '$.Provisioner') = 'stackql'
+AND json_extract(tags, '$.StackName') = '{{ stack_name }}'
+AND json_extract(tags, '$.StackEnv') = '{{ stack_env }}'
+) t;
+
+/*+ delete */
+DELETE FROM aws.ec2.vpcs
+WHERE data__Identifier = '{{ vpc_id }}'
+AND region = '{{ region }}';
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test-derek-aws/stackql_manifest.yml b/test-derek-aws/stackql_manifest.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c411627
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test-derek-aws/stackql_manifest.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+#
+# aws starter project manifest file, add and update values as needed
+#
+version: 1
+name: "test-derek-aws"
+description: description for "test-derek-aws"
+providers:
+  - aws
+globals:
+  - name: region
+    description: aws region
+    value: "{{ AWS_REGION }}"
+  - name: global_tags
+    value:
+      - Key: Provisioner
+        Value: stackql
+      - Key: StackName
+        Value: "{{ stack_name }}"
+      - Key: StackEnv
+        Value: "{{ stack_env }}"
+resources:
+  - name: example_vpc
+    description: example vpc resource
+    if: "'{{ stack_env }}' == 'sit'"
+    props:
+      - name: vpc_cidr_block
+        values:
+          prd:
+            value: "10.0.0.0/16"
+          sit:
+            value: "10.1.0.0/16"
+          dev:
+            value: "10.2.0.0/16"
+      - name: vpc_tags
+        value:
+          - Key: Name
+            Value: "{{ stack_name }}-{{ stack_env }}-vpc"
+        merge: ['global_tags']
+    exports:
+      - vpc_id
+      - vpc_cidr_block
+  - name: example_vpc_dev
+    description: example vpc resource for dev only
+    if: "'{{ stack_env }}' == 'dev'"
+    file: example_vpc.iql
+    props:
+      - name: vpc_cidr_block
+        value: "10.3.0.0/16"
+      - name: vpc_tags
+        value:
+          - Key: Name
+            Value: "{{ stack_name }}-{{ stack_env }}-vpc"
+        merge: ['global_tags']
+    exports:
+      - vpc_id
+      - vpc_cidr_block
diff --git a/website/docs/manifest-file.md b/website/docs/manifest-file.md
index 28fc31a..e787f6d 100644
--- a/website/docs/manifest-file.md
+++ b/website/docs/manifest-file.md
@@ -117,6 +117,12 @@ the fields within the __`stackql_manifest.yml`__ file are described in further d
 
 ***
 
+### <span className="docFieldHeading">`resource.if`</span>
+
+<ManifestFields.ResourceIf />
+
+***
+
 ### <span className="docFieldHeading">`resource.props`</span>
 
 <ManifestFields.ResourceProps />
@@ -390,4 +396,4 @@ resources:
         - {dest_range: "10.200.2.0/24", next_hop_ip: "10.240.0.22"}              
 ```
 
-</File>
\ No newline at end of file
+</File>
diff --git a/website/docs/manifest_fields/index.js b/website/docs/manifest_fields/index.js
index 43f5937..43cc158 100644
--- a/website/docs/manifest_fields/index.js
+++ b/website/docs/manifest_fields/index.js
@@ -1,24 +1,23 @@
-export { default as Name } from './name.mdx';
-export { default as Description } from './description.mdx';
-export { default as Providers } from './providers.mdx';
-export { default as Globals } from './globals.mdx';
-export { default as GlobalName } from './globals/name.mdx';
-export { default as GlobalDescription } from './globals/description.mdx';
-export { default as GlobalValue } from './globals/value.mdx';
-export { default as Resources } from './resources.mdx';
-export { default as ResourceName } from './resources/name.mdx';
-export { default as ResourceType } from './resources/type.mdx';
-export { default as ResourceFile } from './resources/file.mdx';
-export { default as ResourceDescription } from './resources/description.mdx';
-export { default as ResourceExports } from './resources/exports.mdx';
-export { default as ResourceProps } from './resources/props.mdx';
-export { default as ResourceProtected } from './resources/protected.mdx';
-export { default as ResourceAuth } from './resources/auth.mdx';
-export { default as ResourcePropName } from './resources/props/name.mdx';
-export { default as ResourcePropDescription } from './resources/props/description.mdx';
-export { default as ResourcePropValue } from './resources/props/value.mdx';
-export { default as ResourcePropValues } from './resources/props/values.mdx';
-export { default as ResourcePropMerge } from './resources/props/merge.mdx';
-export { default as Version } from './version.mdx';
-
-
+export { default as Name } from "./name.mdx";
+export { default as Description } from "./description.mdx";
+export { default as Providers } from "./providers.mdx";
+export { default as Globals } from "./globals.mdx";
+export { default as GlobalName } from "./globals/name.mdx";
+export { default as GlobalDescription } from "./globals/description.mdx";
+export { default as GlobalValue } from "./globals/value.mdx";
+export { default as Resources } from "./resources.mdx";
+export { default as ResourceName } from "./resources/name.mdx";
+export { default as ResourceType } from "./resources/type.mdx";
+export { default as ResourceFile } from "./resources/file.mdx";
+export { default as ResourceDescription } from "./resources/description.mdx";
+export { default as ResourceExports } from "./resources/exports.mdx";
+export { default as ResourceProps } from "./resources/props.mdx";
+export { default as ResourceProtected } from "./resources/protected.mdx";
+export { default as ResourceAuth } from "./resources/auth.mdx";
+export { default as ResourceIf } from "./resources/if.mdx";
+export { default as ResourcePropName } from "./resources/props/name.mdx";
+export { default as ResourcePropDescription } from "./resources/props/description.mdx";
+export { default as ResourcePropValue } from "./resources/props/value.mdx";
+export { default as ResourcePropValues } from "./resources/props/values.mdx";
+export { default as ResourcePropMerge } from "./resources/props/merge.mdx";
+export { default as Version } from "./version.mdx";
diff --git a/website/docs/manifest_fields/resources.mdx b/website/docs/manifest_fields/resources.mdx
index e2f64ef..9248bb0 100644
--- a/website/docs/manifest_fields/resources.mdx
+++ b/website/docs/manifest_fields/resources.mdx
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import LeftAlignedTable from '@site/src/components/LeftAlignedTable';
     { name: 'resource.exports', anchor: 'resourceexports' },
     { name: 'resource.protected', anchor: 'resourceprotected' },
     { name: 'resource.description', anchor: 'resourcedescription' },
+    { name: 'resource.if', anchor: 'resourceif' },
   ]} 
 />
 
@@ -52,4 +53,4 @@ A file with the name of the resource with an `.iql` extension is expected to exi
 
 </File>
 
-:::
\ No newline at end of file
+:::
diff --git a/website/docs/manifest_fields/resources/if.mdx b/website/docs/manifest_fields/resources/if.mdx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e0c7de4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/website/docs/manifest_fields/resources/if.mdx
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+import File from '@site/src/components/File';
+import LeftAlignedTable from '@site/src/components/LeftAlignedTable';
+
+<LeftAlignedTable type="string" required={false} />
+
+A conditional expression that determines whether a resource should be tested, provisioned, or deprovisioned.
+You can use Python expressions to conditionally determine if a resource should be processed.
+
+<File name='stackql_manifest.yml'>
+
+```yaml {3}
+resources:
+- name: get_transfer_kms_key_id
+  if: "environment == 'production'"
+...
+```
+
+</File>
+
+:::info
+
+- Conditions are evaluated as Python expressions.
+- You can reference literals (string, boolean, integer, etc.) or runtime template variables.
+- If the condition evaluates to `True`, the resource is processed; if `False`, it is skipped.
+- Template variables can be referenced using Jinja2 template syntax (`{{ variable }}`).
+
+:::
+
+## Examples
+
+Conditionally process a resource based on environment:
+
+```yaml
+resources:
+  - name: get_transfer_kms_key_id
+    if: "environment == 'production'"
+    ...
+```
+
+Conditionally process based on other variable values:
+
+```yaml
+resources:
+  - name: get_transfer_kms_key_id
+    if: "some_var == '{{ some_other_var_value }}'"
+    ...
+```