diff --git a/neutron/services/provider_configuration.py b/neutron/services/provider_configuration.py
index 7b387148557..02a620bb701 100644
--- a/neutron/services/provider_configuration.py
+++ b/neutron/services/provider_configuration.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import os
 from neutron_lib import exceptions as n_exc
 from oslo_config import cfg
 from oslo_log import log as logging
+from oslo_log import versionutils
 import stevedore
 
 from neutron._i18n import _, _LW
@@ -116,6 +117,11 @@ class NeutronModule(object):
         # necessary, if modules are loaded on the fly (DevStack may
         # be an example)
         if not providers:
+            versionutils.report_deprecated_feature(
+                LOG,
+                _LW('Implicit loading of service providers from '
+                    'neutron_*.conf files is deprecated and will be removed '
+                    'in Ocata release.'))
             providers = self.ini().service_providers.service_provider
 
         return providers
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/deprecate-implicit-service-providers-loading-703f984b90351bf0.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/deprecate-implicit-service-providers-loading-703f984b90351bf0.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..61f6b63164d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/deprecate-implicit-service-providers-loading-703f984b90351bf0.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+deprecations:
+    - Neutron controller service currently allows to load ``service_providers``
+      options from some files that are not passed to it via --config-dir or
+      --config-dir CLI options. This behaviour is now deprecated and will be
+      disabled in Ocata. Current users are advised to switch to aforementioned
+      CLI options.