diff --git a/bids-validator/src/issues/list.ts b/bids-validator/src/issues/list.ts
index 8d31a9cc8..aebcf77d1 100644
--- a/bids-validator/src/issues/list.ts
+++ b/bids-validator/src/issues/list.ts
@@ -36,11 +36,19 @@ export const filenameIssues: IssueDefinitionRecord = {
   },
   JSON_KEY_REQUIRED: {
     severity: 'error',
-    reason: "A data file's JSON sidecar is missing a key listed as required.",
+    reason: 'A JSON flle is missing a key listed as required.',
   },
   JSON_KEY_RECOMMENDED: {
     severity: 'warning',
-    reason: 'A data files JSON sidecar is missing a key listed as recommended.',
+    reason: 'A JSON file is missing a key listed as recommended.',
+  },
+  SIDECAR_KEY_REQUIRED: {
+    severity: 'error',
+    reason: "A data file's JSON sidecar is missing a key listed as required.",
+  },
+  SIDECAR_KEY_RECOMMENDED: {
+    severity: 'warning',
+    reason: "A data file's JSON sidecar is missing a key listed as recommended.",
   },
   TSV_ERROR: {
     severity: 'error',
diff --git a/bids-validator/src/schema/applyRules.ts b/bids-validator/src/schema/applyRules.ts
index 0e1231ac7..afb42cf4e 100644
--- a/bids-validator/src/schema/applyRules.ts
+++ b/bids-validator/src/schema/applyRules.ts
@@ -412,6 +412,10 @@ function evalJsonCheck(
   schema: GenericSchema,
   schemaPath: string,
 ): void {
+  const sidecarRule: bool = schemaPath.match(/rules\.sidecar/)
+  // Sidecar rules apply specifically to data files, as JSON files cannot have sidecars
+  // Count on other JSON rules to use selectors to match the correct files
+  if (context.extension === '.json' && sidecarRule) return
   for (const [key, requirement] of Object.entries(rule.fields)) {
     const severity = getFieldSeverity(requirement, context)
     // @ts-expect-error
@@ -425,19 +429,22 @@ function evalJsonCheck(
           files: [{ ...context.file }],
         })
       } else if (severity === 'error') {
-        context.issues.addNonSchemaIssue('JSON_KEY_REQUIRED', [
+        context.issues.addNonSchemaIssue(sidecar ? 'SIDECAR_KEY_REQUIRED' : 'JSON_KEY_REQUIRED', [
           {
             ...context.file,
             evidence: `missing ${keyName} as per ${schemaPath}`,
           },
         ])
       } else if (severity === 'warning') {
-        context.issues.addNonSchemaIssue('JSON_KEY_RECOMMENDED', [
-          {
-            ...context.file,
-            evidence: `missing ${keyName} as per ${schemaPath}`,
-          },
-        ])
+        context.issues.addNonSchemaIssue(
+          sidecar ? 'SIDECAR_KEY_RECOMMENDED' : 'JSON_KEY_RECOMMENDED',
+          [
+            {
+              ...context.file,
+              evidence: `missing ${keyName} as per ${schemaPath}`,
+            },
+          ],
+        )
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/bids-validator/src/schema/context.ts b/bids-validator/src/schema/context.ts
index d7d0c37d0..7d830e70b 100644
--- a/bids-validator/src/schema/context.ts
+++ b/bids-validator/src/schema/context.ts
@@ -125,6 +125,9 @@ export class BIDSContext implements Context {
    * json sidecars found.
    */
   async loadSidecar(fileTree?: FileTree) {
+    if (this.extension === '.json') {
+      return
+    }
     if (!fileTree) {
       fileTree = this.fileTree
     }