diff --git a/dev-client/package-lock.json b/dev-client/package-lock.json
index 49b928f49..49a8ace33 100644
--- a/dev-client/package-lock.json
+++ b/dev-client/package-lock.json
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
         "expo-dev-client": "~4.0.19",
         "expo-image-manipulator": "~12.0.5",
         "expo-image-picker": "~15.0.7",
+        "expo-location": "~17.0.1",
         "expo-media-library": "~16.0.4",
         "expo-screen-orientation": "~7.0.5",
         "expo-sensors": "~13.0.9",
@@ -14512,6 +14513,14 @@
         "invariant": "^2.2.4"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/expo-location": {
+      "version": "17.0.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/expo-location/-/expo-location-17.0.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-m+OzotzlAXO3ZZ1uqW5GC25nXW868zN+ROyBA1V4VF6jGay1ZEs4URPglCVUDzZby2F5wt24cMzqDKw2IX6nRw==",
+      "peerDependencies": {
+        "expo": "*"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/expo-manifests": {
       "version": "0.14.3",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/expo-manifests/-/expo-manifests-0.14.3.tgz",
diff --git a/dev-client/package.json b/dev-client/package.json
index aaeb1e47d..1cd351c16 100644
--- a/dev-client/package.json
+++ b/dev-client/package.json
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
     "expo-dev-client": "~4.0.19",
     "expo-image-manipulator": "~12.0.5",
     "expo-image-picker": "~15.0.7",
+    "expo-location": "~17.0.1",
     "expo-media-library": "~16.0.4",
     "expo-screen-orientation": "~7.0.5",
     "expo-sensors": "~13.0.9",
diff --git a/dev-client/src/App.tsx b/dev-client/src/App.tsx
index b4d11b347..2adf23321 100644
--- a/dev-client/src/App.tsx
+++ b/dev-client/src/App.tsx
@@ -25,8 +25,7 @@
 // react-native-get-random-values needed for uuid - https://github.com/uuidjs/uuid#react-native--expo
 import 'react-native-get-random-values';
 
-import {useEffect, useState} from 'react';
-import {LogBox, PermissionsAndroid} from 'react-native';
+import {LogBox} from 'react-native';
 import {GestureHandlerRootView} from 'react-native-gesture-handler';
 import {Provider} from 'react-redux';
 
@@ -37,6 +36,7 @@ import {NativeBaseProvider} from 'native-base';
 import 'terraso-mobile-client/translations';
 import 'terraso-mobile-client/config';
 
+import {useState} from 'react';
 import {PaperProvider, Portal} from 'react-native-paper';
 import {enableFreeze} from 'react-native-screens';
 
@@ -48,7 +48,6 @@ import {APP_CONFIG} from 'terraso-mobile-client/config';
 import {GeospatialProvider} from 'terraso-mobile-client/context/GeospatialContext';
 import {HeaderHeightContext} from 'terraso-mobile-client/context/HeaderHeightContext';
 import {HomeScreenContextProvider} from 'terraso-mobile-client/context/HomeScreenContext';
-import {checkAndroidPermissions} from 'terraso-mobile-client/native/checkAndroidPermissions';
 import {RootNavigator} from 'terraso-mobile-client/navigation/navigators/RootNavigator';
 import {Toasts} from 'terraso-mobile-client/screens/Toasts';
 import {createStore} from 'terraso-mobile-client/store';
@@ -75,12 +74,6 @@ LogBox.ignoreLogs([
 const store = createStore();
 
 function App(): React.JSX.Element {
-  useEffect(() =>
-    checkAndroidPermissions(
-      PermissionsAndroid.PERMISSIONS.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION,
-    ),
-  );
-
   const [headerHeight, setHeaderHeight] = useState(0);
 
   return (
diff --git a/dev-client/src/components/inputs/image/ImagePicker.tsx b/dev-client/src/components/inputs/image/ImagePicker.tsx
index 7ae5e86d6..3c39f46d6 100644
--- a/dev-client/src/components/inputs/image/ImagePicker.tsx
+++ b/dev-client/src/components/inputs/image/ImagePicker.tsx
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ import {
   ModalHandle,
   ModalTrigger,
 } from 'terraso-mobile-client/components/modals/Modal';
-import {PermissionsRequestModal} from 'terraso-mobile-client/components/modals/PermissionsRequestModal';
+import {PermissionsRequestWrapper} from 'terraso-mobile-client/components/modals/PermissionsRequestWrapper';
 import {Column} from 'terraso-mobile-client/components/NativeBaseAdapters';
 import {OverlaySheet} from 'terraso-mobile-client/components/sheets/OverlaySheet';
 
@@ -100,10 +100,12 @@ export const ImagePicker = ({
   return (
     <OverlaySheet ref={ref} trigger={children} Closer={null} {...modalProps}>
       <Column padding="lg" space="md">
-        <PermissionsRequestModal
-          title={t('permissions.camera_title')}
-          body={t('permissions.camera_body', {feature: featureName})}
-          usePermissions={useCameraPermissions}
+        <PermissionsRequestWrapper
+          requestModalTitle={t('permissions.camera_title')}
+          requestModalBody={t('permissions.camera_body', {
+            feature: featureName,
+          })}
+          permissionHook={useCameraPermissions}
           permissionedAction={onUseCamera}>
           {onRequestAction => (
             <Button
@@ -113,11 +115,13 @@ export const ImagePicker = ({
               {t('image.use_camera')}
             </Button>
           )}
-        </PermissionsRequestModal>
-        <PermissionsRequestModal
-          title={t('permissions.gallery_title')}
-          body={t('permissions.gallery_body', {feature: featureName})}
-          usePermissions={useMediaLibraryPermissions}
+        </PermissionsRequestWrapper>
+        <PermissionsRequestWrapper
+          requestModalTitle={t('permissions.gallery_title')}
+          requestModalBody={t('permissions.gallery_body', {
+            feature: featureName,
+          })}
+          permissionHook={useMediaLibraryPermissions}
           permissionedAction={onUseMediaLibrary}>
           {onRequestAction => (
             <Button
@@ -127,7 +131,7 @@ export const ImagePicker = ({
               {t('image.choose_from_gallery')}
             </Button>
           )}
-        </PermissionsRequestModal>
+        </PermissionsRequestWrapper>
         <Button
           _text={{textTransform: 'uppercase'}}
           variant="outline"
diff --git a/dev-client/src/components/modals/PermissionsRequestModal.tsx b/dev-client/src/components/modals/PermissionsRequestWrapper.tsx
similarity index 88%
rename from dev-client/src/components/modals/PermissionsRequestModal.tsx
rename to dev-client/src/components/modals/PermissionsRequestWrapper.tsx
index 39a45d9f1..b91d7aa09 100644
--- a/dev-client/src/components/modals/PermissionsRequestModal.tsx
+++ b/dev-client/src/components/modals/PermissionsRequestWrapper.tsx
@@ -27,17 +27,17 @@ import {ModalHandle} from 'terraso-mobile-client/components/modals/Modal';
 type PermissionHook = ReturnType<typeof createPermissionHook>;
 
 type Props = {
-  title: string;
-  body: string;
-  usePermissions: PermissionHook;
+  requestModalTitle: string;
+  requestModalBody: string;
+  permissionHook: PermissionHook;
   permissionedAction?: () => void;
   children: (onOpen: () => void) => React.ReactNode;
 };
 
-export const PermissionsRequestModal = ({
-  title,
-  body,
-  usePermissions,
+export const PermissionsRequestWrapper = ({
+  requestModalTitle,
+  requestModalBody,
+  permissionHook: usePermissions,
   permissionedAction,
   children,
 }: Props) => {
@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ export const PermissionsRequestModal = ({
         ref={ref}
         isConfirmError={false}
         actionName={t('general.open_settings')}
-        title={title}
-        body={body}
+        title={requestModalTitle}
+        body={requestModalBody}
         handleConfirm={Linking.openSettings}
       />
       {children(onRequestAction)}
diff --git a/dev-client/src/native/checkAndroidPermissions.ts b/dev-client/src/native/checkAndroidPermissions.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 013c9c794..000000000
--- a/dev-client/src/native/checkAndroidPermissions.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,40 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright © 2023 Technology Matters
- *
- * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
- * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published
- * by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
- * (at your option) any later version.
- *
- * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
- * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
- * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
- * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
- *
- * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
- * along with this program. If not, see https://www.gnu.org/licenses/.
- */
-
-import {Permission, PermissionsAndroid, Platform} from 'react-native';
-
-// Android requires user to approve certain key permissions manually
-// see documentation: https://reactnative.dev/docs/permissionsandroid
-export function checkAndroidPermissions(permission: Permission) {
-  if (Platform.OS !== 'android') {
-    return;
-  }
-
-  PermissionsAndroid.request(permission)
-    .then(granted => {
-      if (granted) {
-        console.log(permission, 'granted');
-      } else {
-        // TODO: What to do on rejection
-        console.log(permission, 'rejected');
-      }
-    })
-    .catch(err => {
-      // TODO: What to do on error?
-      console.error(err);
-    });
-}
diff --git a/dev-client/src/screens/HomeScreen/HomeScreen.tsx b/dev-client/src/screens/HomeScreen/HomeScreen.tsx
index 08cb64553..0d1394c3a 100644
--- a/dev-client/src/screens/HomeScreen/HomeScreen.tsx
+++ b/dev-client/src/screens/HomeScreen/HomeScreen.tsx
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ import {
   useState,
 } from 'react';
 
+import {useForegroundPermissions} from 'expo-location';
+
 import BottomSheet, {BottomSheetModal} from '@gorhom/bottom-sheet';
 import Mapbox from '@rnmapbox/maps';
 
@@ -58,6 +60,16 @@ import {ScreenScaffold} from 'terraso-mobile-client/screens/ScreenScaffold';
 import {useDispatch, useSelector} from 'terraso-mobile-client/store';
 
 export const HomeScreen = memo(() => {
+  const [locationPermission, requestLocationPermission] =
+    useForegroundPermissions();
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!locationPermission?.granted) {
+      requestLocationPermission();
+    }
+    // disable depcheck because we only want to run on mount
+    // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
+  }, []);
+
   const infoBottomSheetRef = useRef<BottomSheetModal>(null);
   const siteListBottomSheetRef = useRef<BottomSheet>(null);
   const [mapStyleURL, setMapStyleURL] = useState(Mapbox.StyleURL.Street);
diff --git a/dev-client/src/screens/HomeScreen/components/MapSearch.tsx b/dev-client/src/screens/HomeScreen/components/MapSearch.tsx
index 4b59bb6f4..0f539d697 100644
--- a/dev-client/src/screens/HomeScreen/components/MapSearch.tsx
+++ b/dev-client/src/screens/HomeScreen/components/MapSearch.tsx
@@ -21,12 +21,15 @@ import {Keyboard} from 'react-native';
 import Autocomplete from 'react-native-autocomplete-input';
 import {Searchbar} from 'react-native-paper';
 
+import {useForegroundPermissions} from 'expo-location';
+
 import {Pressable} from 'native-base';
 
 import {Coords} from 'terraso-client-shared/types';
 
 import {IconButton} from 'terraso-mobile-client/components/icons/IconButton';
 import {searchBarStyles} from 'terraso-mobile-client/components/ListFilter';
+import {PermissionsRequestWrapper} from 'terraso-mobile-client/components/modals/PermissionsRequestWrapper';
 import {
   Box,
   Column,
@@ -211,14 +214,22 @@ export default function MapSearch({zoomTo, zoomToUser, toggleMapLayer}: Props) {
             padding={2}
             onPress={toggleMapLayer}
           />
-          <IconButton
-            name="my-location"
-            _icon={{color: 'action.active'}}
-            bgColor="white"
-            padding={2}
-            borderRadius={15}
-            onPress={zoomToUser}
-          />
+          <PermissionsRequestWrapper
+            requestModalTitle={t('permissions.location_title')}
+            requestModalBody={t('permissions.location_body')}
+            permissionHook={useForegroundPermissions}
+            permissionedAction={zoomToUser}>
+            {onRequest => (
+              <IconButton
+                name="my-location"
+                _icon={{color: 'action.active'}}
+                bgColor="white"
+                padding={2}
+                borderRadius={15}
+                onPress={onRequest}
+              />
+            )}
+          </PermissionsRequestWrapper>
         </Column>
       </Row>
     </Box>
diff --git a/dev-client/src/screens/SlopeScreen/SlopeMeterScreen.tsx b/dev-client/src/screens/SlopeScreen/SlopeMeterScreen.tsx
index 6f0c73476..7577e17e6 100644
--- a/dev-client/src/screens/SlopeScreen/SlopeMeterScreen.tsx
+++ b/dev-client/src/screens/SlopeScreen/SlopeMeterScreen.tsx
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ import {updateSoilData} from 'terraso-client-shared/soilId/soilIdSlice';
 
 import {BigCloseButton} from 'terraso-mobile-client/components/buttons/BigCloseButton';
 import {Icon} from 'terraso-mobile-client/components/icons/Icon';
-import {PermissionsRequestModal} from 'terraso-mobile-client/components/modals/PermissionsRequestModal';
+import {PermissionsRequestWrapper} from 'terraso-mobile-client/components/modals/PermissionsRequestWrapper';
 import {
   Box,
   Column,
@@ -100,18 +100,18 @@ export const SlopeMeterScreen = ({siteId}: {siteId: string}) => {
               </Column>
             </CameraView>
           ) : (
-            <PermissionsRequestModal
-              title={t('permissions.camera_title')}
-              body={t('permissions.camera_body', {
+            <PermissionsRequestWrapper
+              requestModalTitle={t('permissions.camera_title')}
+              requestModalBody={t('permissions.camera_body', {
                 feature: t('slope.steepness.slope_meter'),
               })}
-              usePermissions={useCameraPermissions}>
+              permissionHook={useCameraPermissions}>
               {onRequest => (
                 <Button size="lg" onPress={onRequest}>
                   {t('slope.steepness.camera_grant')}
                 </Button>
               )}
-            </PermissionsRequestModal>
+            </PermissionsRequestWrapper>
           )}
         </Box>
         <Column alignItems="center">
diff --git a/dev-client/src/translations/en.json b/dev-client/src/translations/en.json
index 5821c588d..701108606 100644
--- a/dev-client/src/translations/en.json
+++ b/dev-client/src/translations/en.json
@@ -451,7 +451,9 @@
     "camera_title": "LandPKS Soil ID needs to access your camera",
     "camera_body": "To use {{feature}}, grant LandPKS Soil ID access to your camera in device settings.",
     "gallery_title": "LandPKS Soil ID needs to access your photo gallery",
-    "gallery_body": "To use {{feature}}, grant LandPKS Soil ID access to your photo gallery in device settings."
+    "gallery_body": "To use {{feature}}, grant LandPKS Soil ID access to your photo gallery in device settings.",
+    "location_title": "LandPKS Soil ID needs to access your location",
+    "location_body": "For the best map experience, grant LandPKS Soil ID access to your location in device settings."
   },
   "errors": {
     "generic": "Error saving soil ID information."