diff --git a/docs/changelog.md b/docs/changelog.md
index 346c37ce8..82a2e1817 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.md
+++ b/docs/changelog.md
@@ -10,6 +10,10 @@ Each revision is versioned by the date of the revision.
 
 - Added GitHub workflow that checks whether a pull request contains a change artifact.
 
+## 2025-11-12
+
+- Updated the haproxy-route library to add the `allow_http` attribute.
+
 ## 2025-10-14
 
 - Added action `get-proxied-endpoints`.
diff --git a/docs/release-notes/artifacts/pr0230.yaml b/docs/release-notes/artifacts/pr0230.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5e20bc4e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/release-notes/artifacts/pr0230.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+schema_version: 1
+changes:
+  - title: Allow enabling http for haproxy route backend.
+    author: tphan025
+    type: minor
+    description: |
+      Add a new allow_http attribute to allow disabling mandatory HTTPS redirection for backends.
+      Add logic to build the required ACL and rendering logic in the j2 template.
+    urls:
+      pr: https://github.com/canonical/haproxy-operator/pull/230
+      related_doc:
+      related_issue:
+    visibility: public
+    highlight: false
diff --git a/lib/charms/haproxy/v1/haproxy_route.py b/lib/charms/haproxy/v1/haproxy_route.py
index 8abb25983..a96d39eec 100644
--- a/lib/charms/haproxy/v1/haproxy_route.py
+++ b/lib/charms/haproxy/v1/haproxy_route.py
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ def _on_haproxy_route_data_available(self, event: EventBase) -> None:
 
 # Increment this PATCH version before using `charmcraft publish-lib` or reset
 # to 0 if you are raising the major API version
-LIBPATCH = 8
+LIBPATCH = 9
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 HAPROXY_ROUTE_RELATION_NAME = "haproxy-route"
@@ -538,6 +538,8 @@ class RequirerApplicationData(_DatabagModel):
         timeout: Configuration for server, client, and queue timeouts.
         server_maxconn: Optional maximum number of connections per server.
         http_server_close: Configure server close after request.
+        allow_http: Whether to allow HTTP traffic in addition to HTTPS. Defaults to False.
+            Warning: enabling HTTP is a security risk, make sure you apply the necessary precautions.
     """
 
     service: VALIDSTR = Field(description="The name of the service.")
@@ -589,6 +591,9 @@ class RequirerApplicationData(_DatabagModel):
     http_server_close: bool = Field(
         description="Configure server close after request", default=False
     )
+    allow_http: bool = Field(
+        description="Whether to allow HTTP traffic in addition to HTTPS.", default=False
+    )
 
     @field_validator("load_balancing")
     @classmethod
@@ -945,6 +950,7 @@ def __init__(
         server_maxconn: Optional[int] = None,
         unit_address: Optional[str] = None,
         http_server_close: bool = False,
+        allow_http: bool = False,
     ) -> None:
         """Initialize the HaproxyRouteRequirer.
 
@@ -983,6 +989,9 @@ def __init__(
             server_maxconn: Maximum connections per server.
             unit_address: IP address of the unit (if not provided, will use binding address).
             http_server_close: Configure server close after request.
+            allow_http: Whether to allow HTTP traffic in addition to HTTPS.
+                Warning: enabling HTTP is a security risk,
+                make sure you apply the necessary precautions.
         """
         super().__init__(charm, relation_name)
 
@@ -1023,6 +1032,7 @@ def __init__(
             queue_timeout,
             server_maxconn,
             http_server_close,
+            allow_http,
         )
         self._unit_address = unit_address
 
@@ -1079,6 +1089,7 @@ def provide_haproxy_route_requirements(
         server_maxconn: Optional[int] = None,
         unit_address: Optional[str] = None,
         http_server_close: bool = False,
+        allow_http: bool = False,
     ) -> None:
         """Update haproxy-route requirements data in the relation.
 
@@ -1115,6 +1126,9 @@ def provide_haproxy_route_requirements(
             server_maxconn: Maximum connections per server.
             unit_address: IP address of the unit (if not provided, will use binding address).
             http_server_close: Configure server close after request.
+            allow_http: Whether to allow HTTP traffic in addition to HTTPS.
+                Warning: enabling HTTP is a security risk,
+                make sure you apply the necessary precautions.
         """
         self._unit_address = unit_address
         self._application_data = self._generate_application_data(
@@ -1148,6 +1162,7 @@ def provide_haproxy_route_requirements(
             queue_timeout,
             server_maxconn,
             http_server_close,
+            allow_http,
         )
         self.update_relation_data()
 
@@ -1184,6 +1199,7 @@ def _generate_application_data(  # noqa: C901
         queue_timeout: int = 60,
         server_maxconn: Optional[int] = None,
         http_server_close: bool = False,
+        allow_http: bool = False,
     ) -> dict[str, Any]:
         """Generate the complete application data structure.
 
@@ -1219,6 +1235,9 @@ def _generate_application_data(  # noqa: C901
             queue_timeout: Timeout for requests waiting in queue in seconds.
             server_maxconn: Maximum connections per server.
             http_server_close: Configure server close after request.
+            allow_http: Whether to allow HTTP traffic in addition to HTTPS.
+                Warning: enabling HTTP is a security risk,
+                make sure you apply the necessary precautions.
 
         Returns:
             dict: A dictionary containing the complete application data structure.
@@ -1271,8 +1290,15 @@ def _generate_application_data(  # noqa: C901
                 header_rewrite_expressions,
             ),
             "http_server_close": http_server_close,
+            "allow_http": allow_http,
         }
 
+        if allow_http:
+            logger.warning(
+                "HTTP traffic is allowed alongside HTTPS. "
+                "This is a security risk, make sure you apply the necessary precautions."
+            )
+
         if check := self._generate_server_healthcheck_configuration(
             check_interval, check_rise, check_fall, check_path, check_port
         ):
diff --git a/src/haproxy.py b/src/haproxy.py
index 9501309b6..fe672f2a3 100644
--- a/src/haproxy.py
+++ b/src/haproxy.py
@@ -163,6 +163,7 @@ def reconcile_haproxy_route(
             "peer_units_address": haproxy_route_requirers_information.peers,
             "haproxy_crt_dir": HAPROXY_CERTS_DIR,
             "haproxy_cas_file": HAPROXY_CAS_FILE,
+            "acls_for_allow_http": haproxy_route_requirers_information.acls_for_allow_http,
         }
         template = (
             HAPROXY_ROUTE_TCP_CONFIG_TEMPLATE
diff --git a/src/state/haproxy_route.py b/src/state/haproxy_route.py
index a8d4af773..1384b4ac6 100644
--- a/src/state/haproxy_route.py
+++ b/src/state/haproxy_route.py
@@ -310,16 +310,34 @@ def check_backend_paths(self) -> Self:
         if len(requirers_paths) != len(set(requirers_paths)):
             logger.warning(
                 "Requirers defined path(s) that map to multiple backends."
-                "This can cause unintended behaviours."
+                "This can cause unintended behaviors."
             )
 
         if len(requirers_hostnames) != len(set(requirers_hostnames)):
             logger.warning(
                 "Requirers defined hostname(s) that map to multiple backends."
-                "This can cause unintended behaviours."
+                "This can cause unintended behaviors."
             )
         return self
 
+    @property
+    def acls_for_allow_http(self) -> list[str]:
+        """Get the list of all allow_http ACLs from all backends.
+
+        Returns:
+            list[str]: List of allow_http ACLs.
+        """
+        allow_http_acls: list[str] = []
+        for backend in self.backends:
+            if backend.application_data.allow_http:
+                acl = f"{{ req.hdr(Host) -m str {' '.join(backend.hostname_acls)} }}"
+                if backend.path_acl_required:
+                    acl += f" {{ path_beg -i {' '.join(backend.application_data.paths)} }}"
+                if backend.deny_path_acl_required:
+                    acl += f" !{{ path_beg -i {' '.join(backend.application_data.deny_paths)} }}"
+                allow_http_acls.append(acl)
+        return allow_http_acls
+
 
 def get_servers_definition_from_requirer_data(
     requirer: HaproxyRouteRequirerData,
diff --git a/templates/haproxy_route.cfg.j2 b/templates/haproxy_route.cfg.j2
index c172129c8..13cb81d5a 100644
--- a/templates/haproxy_route.cfg.j2
+++ b/templates/haproxy_route.cfg.j2
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ frontend haproxy
     bind [::]:80 v4v6
     bind [::]:443 v4v6 ssl crt {{ haproxy_crt_dir }}
     # Redirect HTTP to HTTPS
-    http-request redirect scheme https unless { ssl_fc }
+    http-request redirect scheme https unless { ssl_fc } {% for acl in acls_for_allow_http %} || {{ acl }}{% endfor %}
 {% endif %}
 
 {% for backend in backends %}
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_haproxy_route.py b/tests/integration/test_haproxy_route.py
index bddf67441..19672a60e 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_haproxy_route.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_haproxy_route.py
@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@ def test_haproxy_route_protocol_https(
                         "load_balancing_consistent_hashing": True,
                         "http_server_close": True,
                         "protocol": "https",
+                        "allow_http": True,
                     }
                 ]
             ),
@@ -153,3 +154,11 @@ def test_haproxy_route_protocol_https(
         verify=False,  # nosec: B501
     )
     assert response.text == "ok!"
+
+    # Make HTTP request to verify allow_http works
+    response = requests.get(
+        f"http://{haproxy_ip_address}",
+        headers={"Host": TEST_EXTERNAL_HOSTNAME_CONFIG},
+        timeout=5,
+    )
+    assert response.text == "ok!"
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_haproxy_route.py b/tests/unit/test_haproxy_route.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..39b8d6cf6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/test_haproxy_route.py
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+# Copyright 2025 Canonical Ltd.
+# See LICENSE file for licensing details.
+
+"""Unit tests for haproxy-route interface library HaproxyRouteRequirerData."""
+
+import ipaddress
+import typing
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock
+
+import pytest
+from charms.haproxy.v0.haproxy_route_tcp import HaproxyRouteTcpRequirersData
+from charms.haproxy.v1.haproxy_route import (
+    HaproxyRouteRequirerData,
+    HaproxyRouteRequirersData,
+    RequirerApplicationData,
+    RequirerUnitData,
+)
+
+from state.haproxy_route import HaproxyRouteRequirersInformation
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(name="mock_requirer_app_data_with_allow_http")
+def mock_requirer_app_data_with_allow_http_fixture():
+    """Create mock requirer application data with allow_http enabled."""
+    return RequirerApplicationData(
+        service="test-service",
+        ports=[8080],
+        hosts=[ipaddress.ip_address("10.0.0.1")],
+        allow_http=True,
+    )
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(name="mock_haproxy_route_requirer_data")
+def mock_haproxy_route_requirer_data_fixture():
+    """Create mock requirer application data with allow_http enabled."""
+    return HaproxyRouteRequirerData(
+        relation_id=1,
+        application_data=typing.cast(
+            RequirerApplicationData,
+            RequirerApplicationData.from_dict(
+                {
+                    "service": "service",
+                    "ports": [80],
+                    "allow_http": True,
+                    "hostname": "example.com",
+                    "paths": ["/path"],
+                    "deny_paths": ["/private"],
+                }
+            ),
+        ),
+        units_data=[
+            typing.cast(RequirerUnitData, RequirerUnitData.from_dict({"address": "10.0.0.1"}))
+        ],
+    )
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(name="mock_haproxy_route_relation_data")
+def mock_haproxy_route_relation_data_fixture(
+    mock_haproxy_route_requirer_data: HaproxyRouteRequirerData,
+) -> HaproxyRouteRequirersData:
+    """Create mock requirer application data with allow_http enabled."""
+    return HaproxyRouteRequirersData(
+        requirers_data=[mock_haproxy_route_requirer_data],
+        relation_ids_with_invalid_data=[],
+    )
+
+
+def test_requirer_application_data_allow_http_default_is_false():
+    """
+    arrange: Create a RequirerApplicationData model without specifying allow_http.
+    act: Check the allow_http value.
+    assert: allow_http defaults to False.
+    """
+    data = RequirerApplicationData(
+        service="test-service",
+        ports=[8080],
+    )
+
+    assert data.allow_http is False
+
+
+def test_haproxy_route_requirer_data_with_allow_http_true(mock_requirer_app_data_with_allow_http):
+    """
+    arrange: Create a HaproxyRouteRequirerData with RequirerApplicationData having allow_http=True.
+    act: Instantiate HaproxyRouteRequirerData.
+    assert: Object is created successfully and allow_http is True.
+    """
+    requirer_data = HaproxyRouteRequirerData(
+        relation_id=2,
+        application_data=mock_requirer_app_data_with_allow_http,
+        units_data=[RequirerUnitData(address=ipaddress.ip_address("10.0.0.1"))],
+    )
+
+    assert requirer_data.application_data.allow_http is True
+
+
+def test_haproxy_route_requirer_information(
+    mock_haproxy_route_relation_data: HaproxyRouteRequirersData,
+):
+    """
+    arrange: Setup all relation providers mock.
+    act: Initialize the charm state.
+    assert: The proxy mode is correctly set to HAPROXY_ROUTE.
+    """
+    haproxy_route_tcp_provider_mock = MagicMock()
+    haproxy_route_tcp_provider_mock.get_data = MagicMock(
+        return_value=HaproxyRouteTcpRequirersData(
+            requirers_data=[], relation_ids_with_invalid_data=[]
+        )
+    )
+    haproxy_route_provider_mock = MagicMock()
+    haproxy_route_provider_mock.get_data = MagicMock(return_value=mock_haproxy_route_relation_data)
+    haproxy_route_information = HaproxyRouteRequirersInformation.from_provider(
+        haproxy_route=haproxy_route_provider_mock,
+        haproxy_route_tcp=haproxy_route_tcp_provider_mock,
+        external_hostname=None,
+        peers=[],
+        ca_certs_configured=False,
+    )
+    assert haproxy_route_information.acls_for_allow_http == [
+        "{ req.hdr(Host) -m str example.com } { path_beg -i /path } !{ path_beg -i /private }"
+    ]