diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index a003f7593..4e6247b40 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,10 +1,20 @@
 # Unreleased
 
+### Features
+
+-   Added `headings` option to control optional headings, #2729.
+
 ### Bug Fixes
 
 -   `externalSymbolLinkMappings` now uses the TypeScript reported link target if available, #2725.
 -   TypeDoc will no longer omit the modules page if a project contains only modules/documents, #2730.
 -   Fixed missing breadcrumbs on project page, #2728.
+-   TypeDoc will no longer render an empty readme page if no readme was found.
+
+### Thanks!
+
+-   @lriggle-strib
+-   @mrfigg
 
 ## v0.26.8 (2024-10-04)
 
diff --git a/src/lib/internationalization/translatable.ts b/src/lib/internationalization/translatable.ts
index 0d5c32aab..52c014bcf 100644
--- a/src/lib/internationalization/translatable.ts
+++ b/src/lib/internationalization/translatable.ts
@@ -300,6 +300,7 @@ export const translatable = {
     help_navigationLeaves:
         "Branches of the navigation tree which should not be expanded",
     help_navigation: "Determines how the navigation sidebar is organized",
+    help_headings: "Determines which optional headings are rendered",
     help_visibilityFilters:
         "Specify the default visibility for builtin filters and additional filters according to modifier tags",
     help_searchCategoryBoosts:
diff --git a/src/lib/output/themes/default/DefaultTheme.tsx b/src/lib/output/themes/default/DefaultTheme.tsx
index 622ccab44..1a58fd514 100644
--- a/src/lib/output/themes/default/DefaultTheme.tsx
+++ b/src/lib/output/themes/default/DefaultTheme.tsx
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ export class DefaultTheme extends Theme {
         const urls: UrlMapping[] = [];
         this.sluggers.set(project, new Slugger());
 
-        if (!hasReadme(this.application.options.getValue("readme"))) {
+        if (!project.readme?.length) {
             project.url = "index.html";
             urls.push(new UrlMapping<ContainerReflection>("index.html", project, this.reflectionTemplate));
         } else {
@@ -507,10 +507,6 @@ export class DefaultTheme extends Theme {
     }
 }
 
-function hasReadme(readme: string) {
-    return !readme.endsWith("none");
-}
-
 function getReflectionClasses(
     reflection: DeclarationReflection | DocumentReflection,
     filters: Record<string, boolean>,
diff --git a/src/lib/output/themes/default/partials/header.tsx b/src/lib/output/themes/default/partials/header.tsx
index 429dc76a3..dedfe375b 100644
--- a/src/lib/output/themes/default/partials/header.tsx
+++ b/src/lib/output/themes/default/partials/header.tsx
@@ -2,19 +2,39 @@ import { classNames, getDisplayName, hasTypeParameters, join } from "../../lib";
 import { JSX } from "../../../../utils";
 import type { DefaultThemeRenderContext } from "../DefaultThemeRenderContext";
 import type { PageEvent } from "../../../events";
-import { type Reflection, ReflectionKind } from "../../../../models";
+import type { Reflection } from "../../../../models";
 
 export const header = (context: DefaultThemeRenderContext, props: PageEvent<Reflection>) => {
-    const HeadingLevel = props.model.isProject() ? "h2" : "h1";
+    const opts = context.options.getValue("headings");
+
+    // Don't render on the index page or the class hierarchy page
+    // We should probably someday render on the class hierarchy page, but currently breadcrumbs
+    // are entirely dependent on the reflection hierarchy, so it doesn't make sense today.
+    const renderBreadcrumbs = props.url !== "index.html" && props.url !== "hierarchy.html";
+
+    // Titles are always rendered on DeclarationReflection pages and the modules page for the project.
+    // They are also rendered on the readme + document pages if configured to do so by the user.
+    let renderTitle: boolean;
+    let titleKindString = "";
+    if (props.model.isProject()) {
+        if (props.url === "index.html" && props.model.readme?.length) {
+            renderTitle = opts.readme;
+        } else {
+            renderTitle = true;
+        }
+    } else if (props.model.isDocument()) {
+        renderTitle = opts.document;
+    } else {
+        renderTitle = true;
+        titleKindString = " " + context.internationalization.kindSingularString(props.model.kind);
+    }
+
     return (
         <div class="tsd-page-title">
-            {props.url !== "index.html" && props.url !== "hierarchy.html" && (
-                <ul class="tsd-breadcrumb">{context.breadcrumb(props.model)}</ul>
-            )}
-            {!props.model.isDocument() && (
-                <HeadingLevel class={classNames({ deprecated: props.model.isDeprecated() })}>
-                    {props.model.kind !== ReflectionKind.Project &&
-                        `${context.internationalization.kindSingularString(props.model.kind)} `}
+            {renderBreadcrumbs && <ul class="tsd-breadcrumb">{context.breadcrumb(props.model)}</ul>}
+            {renderTitle && (
+                <h1 class={classNames({ deprecated: props.model.isDeprecated() })}>
+                    {titleKindString}
                     {getDisplayName(props.model)}
                     {hasTypeParameters(props.model) && (
                         <>
@@ -24,7 +44,7 @@ export const header = (context: DefaultThemeRenderContext, props: PageEvent<Refl
                         </>
                     )}
                     {context.reflectionFlags(props.model)}
-                </HeadingLevel>
+                </h1>
             )}
         </div>
     );
diff --git a/src/lib/utils/options/declaration.ts b/src/lib/utils/options/declaration.ts
index 9188a19ba..d9236a2a3 100644
--- a/src/lib/utils/options/declaration.ts
+++ b/src/lib/utils/options/declaration.ts
@@ -185,6 +185,10 @@ export interface TypeDocOptionMap {
         compactFolders: boolean;
         excludeReferences: boolean;
     };
+    headings: {
+        readme: boolean;
+        document: boolean;
+    };
     visibilityFilters: ManuallyValidatedOption<{
         protected?: boolean;
         private?: boolean;
diff --git a/src/lib/utils/options/sources/typedoc.ts b/src/lib/utils/options/sources/typedoc.ts
index 94f9b589c..963ea5e8b 100644
--- a/src/lib/utils/options/sources/typedoc.ts
+++ b/src/lib/utils/options/sources/typedoc.ts
@@ -564,6 +564,16 @@ export function addTypeDocOptions(options: Pick<Options, "addDeclaration">) {
         },
     });
 
+    options.addDeclaration({
+        name: "headings",
+        help: (i18n) => i18n.help_headings(),
+        type: ParameterType.Flags,
+        defaults: {
+            readme: true,
+            document: false,
+        },
+    });
+
     options.addDeclaration({
         name: "visibilityFilters",
         help: (i18n) => i18n.help_visibilityFilters(),