diff --git a/core/res/res/values/config.xml b/core/res/res/values/config.xml
index 3295df1122d01..c83594a7625f6 100644
--- a/core/res/res/values/config.xml
+++ b/core/res/res/values/config.xml
@@ -1602,6 +1602,9 @@
          config_timeZoneRulesUpdateTrackingEnabled are true.] -->
     <integer name="config_timeZoneRulesCheckRetryCount">5</integer>
 
+    <!-- Whether the geolocation time zone detection feature is enabled. -->
+    <bool name="config_enableGeolocationTimeZoneDetection" translatable="false">false</bool>
+
     <!-- Whether to enable primary location time zone provider overlay which allows the primary
          location time zone provider to be replaced by an app at run-time. When disabled, only the
          config_primaryLocationTimeZoneProviderPackageName package will be searched for the primary
diff --git a/core/res/res/values/symbols.xml b/core/res/res/values/symbols.xml
index fba431c66f531..acfafa4d84091 100644
--- a/core/res/res/values/symbols.xml
+++ b/core/res/res/values/symbols.xml
@@ -2165,6 +2165,7 @@
   <java-symbol type="string" name="config_defaultNetworkScorerPackageName" />
   <java-symbol type="string" name="config_persistentDataPackageName" />
   <java-symbol type="string" name="config_deviceConfiguratorPackageName" />
+  <java-symbol type="bool" name="config_enableGeolocationTimeZoneDetection" />
   <java-symbol type="bool" name="config_enablePrimaryLocationTimeZoneOverlay" />
   <java-symbol type="string" name="config_primaryLocationTimeZoneProviderPackageName" />
   <java-symbol type="bool" name="config_enableSecondaryLocationTimeZoneOverlay" />
diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/location/timezone/LocationTimeZoneManagerService.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/location/timezone/LocationTimeZoneManagerService.java
index 74491c5739f3c..83f4ca2839fb3 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/location/timezone/LocationTimeZoneManagerService.java
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/location/timezone/LocationTimeZoneManagerService.java
@@ -79,8 +79,8 @@ public class LocationTimeZoneManagerService extends Binder {
 
         @Override
         public void onStart() {
-            if (TimeZoneDetectorService.GEOLOCATION_TIME_ZONE_DETECTION_ENABLED) {
-                Context context = getContext();
+            Context context = getContext();
+            if (TimeZoneDetectorService.isGeoLocationTimeZoneDetectionEnabled(context)) {
                 mService = new LocationTimeZoneManagerService(context);
 
                 // The service currently exposes no LocalService or Binder API, but it extends
@@ -93,7 +93,8 @@ public class LocationTimeZoneManagerService extends Binder {
 
         @Override
         public void onBootPhase(int phase) {
-            if (TimeZoneDetectorService.GEOLOCATION_TIME_ZONE_DETECTION_ENABLED) {
+            Context context = getContext();
+            if (TimeZoneDetectorService.isGeoLocationTimeZoneDetectionEnabled(context)) {
                 if (phase == PHASE_SYSTEM_SERVICES_READY) {
                     // The location service must be functioning after this boot phase.
                     mService.onSystemReady();
diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/timezonedetector/TimeZoneDetectorService.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/timezonedetector/TimeZoneDetectorService.java
index 68a086da50375..033bfa648f2fb 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/timezonedetector/TimeZoneDetectorService.java
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/timezonedetector/TimeZoneDetectorService.java
@@ -59,14 +59,25 @@ public final class TimeZoneDetectorService extends ITimeZoneDetectorService.Stub
     private static final String TAG = "TimeZoneDetectorService";
 
     /**
-     * A "feature switch" for enabling / disabling location-based time zone detection. If this is
-     * {@code false}, there should be few / little changes in behavior with previous releases and
-     * little overhead associated with geolocation components.
-     * TODO(b/151304765) Remove this when the feature is on for all.
+     * A "feature switch" for location-based time zone detection. If this is {@code false}. It is
+     * initialized and never refreshed; it affects what services are started on boot so consistency
+     * is important.
      */
-    public static final boolean GEOLOCATION_TIME_ZONE_DETECTION_ENABLED =
-            SystemProperties.getBoolean(
-                    "persist.sys.location_time_zone_detection_feature_enabled", false);
+    @Nullable
+    private static Boolean sGeoLocationTimeZoneDetectionEnabled;
+
+    /** Returns {@code true} if the location-based time zone detection feature is enabled. */
+    public static boolean isGeoLocationTimeZoneDetectionEnabled(Context context) {
+        if (sGeoLocationTimeZoneDetectionEnabled == null) {
+            // The config value is expected to be the main switch. Platform developers can also
+            // enable the feature using a persistent system property.
+            sGeoLocationTimeZoneDetectionEnabled = context.getResources().getBoolean(
+                    com.android.internal.R.bool.config_enableGeolocationTimeZoneDetection)
+                    || SystemProperties.getBoolean(
+                            "persist.sys.location_time_zone_detection_feature_enabled", false);
+        }
+        return sGeoLocationTimeZoneDetectionEnabled;
+    }
 
     /**
      * Handles the service lifecycle for {@link TimeZoneDetectorService} and
@@ -84,9 +95,11 @@ public final class TimeZoneDetectorService extends ITimeZoneDetectorService.Stub
             Context context = getContext();
             Handler handler = FgThread.getHandler();
 
+            boolean geolocationTimeZoneDetectionEnabled =
+                    isGeoLocationTimeZoneDetectionEnabled(context);
             TimeZoneDetectorStrategy timeZoneDetectorStrategy =
                     TimeZoneDetectorStrategyImpl.create(
-                            context, handler, GEOLOCATION_TIME_ZONE_DETECTION_ENABLED);
+                            context, handler, geolocationTimeZoneDetectionEnabled);
 
             // Create and publish the local service for use by internal callers.
             TimeZoneDetectorInternal internal =