diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index d2eef161..7bf94677 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -60,6 +60,9 @@ adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
   without changing the centrally managed review-agent credential contract.
 
 ### Security
+- Reject non-exact string subclasses in HTTP method policy values before
+  normalization or comma-separated parsing, preserving ordinary built-in method
+  strings, RFC 9110 token validation, uppercase canonicalization, and `CONNECT` denial.
 - Reject non-exact integer subclasses in shared policy integer fields before
   retaining trusted configuration state. Exact built-in integers and existing
   ASCII decimal strings remain supported, preserving defaults and ranges while
diff --git a/docs/research/policy-configuration-integrity.md b/docs/research/policy-configuration-integrity.md
index ea35b13f..35b6a1d9 100644
--- a/docs/research/policy-configuration-integrity.md
+++ b/docs/research/policy-configuration-integrity.md
@@ -14,28 +14,39 @@ and are converted to exact built-in integers before range checks, relational
 checks, policy fingerprinting, DNS validation, request validation, or transport
 delegation. Exact built-in integers continue to be accepted directly.
 
+HTTP method policy values use the same supported-value sealing principle. Each
+individual method token must be an exact built-in `str` before whitespace removal
+or uppercase normalization can run. The existing exact comma-separated
+`allowed_methods` string remains supported and is split only after its outer value
+has been proven to be an exact built-in string. The resulting method entries still
+follow the RFC 9110 token grammar, are canonicalized to uppercase, and always
+reject `CONNECT`.
+
 This restriction applies to the shared integer normalization paths for allowed
 ports, maximum resolved-address count, positive header-field counts, and positive
-request/response byte budgets. It does not change configured defaults, allowed
-ranges, authority pairing, DNS policy, TLS identity, proxy isolation, HTTP method
-policy, request/response framing, or the generic request-time denial boundary.
+request/response byte budgets, plus the reviewed HTTP method normalization paths.
+It does not change configured defaults, allowed ranges, authority pairing, DNS
+policy, TLS identity, proxy isolation, request/response framing, or the generic
+request-time denial boundary.
 
 ## Why exact type matters at this boundary
 
-Python deliberately supports subclassing immutable built-in types such as `int`,
-and `isinstance(value, int)` is true for instances of subclasses. Python's data
-model also permits subclasses of immutable built-ins to customize instance
-creation. A broad `isinstance` check is therefore a polymorphism contract, not
-proof that the stored object is the canonical built-in integer value expected by
-a closed immutable policy representation.
+Python deliberately supports subclassing immutable built-in types such as `int`
+and `str`. `isinstance(value, int)` or `isinstance(value, str)` therefore accepts
+subclass instances, while Python's data model permits immutable built-in
+subclasses to customize behavior. A broad `isinstance` check is consequently a
+polymorphism contract, not proof that the stored or parsed value is the canonical
+built-in primitive expected by a closed immutable policy representation.
 
 EgressWeave does not need that polymorphism for policy scalar fields. Supported
-customization is expressed through documented values, not user-defined numeric
-classes. Requiring `type(value) is int` on integer-form inputs prevents a subclass
-object from surviving normalization and later participating in policy hashing or
-equality, authority tuples, arithmetic or comparison boundaries, or provider
-delegation. Environment text still reaches the same canonical state through
-explicit decimal conversion.
+customization is expressed through documented values, not user-defined numeric or
+string classes. Requiring `type(value) is int` on integer-form inputs prevents a
+subclass object from surviving normalization and later participating in policy
+hashing or equality, authority tuples, arithmetic or comparison boundaries, or
+provider delegation. Requiring `type(value) is str` for HTTP methods prevents a
+subclass from controlling `strip()`, `upper()`, or the comma-separated `split()`
+step before trusted normalization. Environment text still reaches the same
+canonical state through explicit decimal conversion or ordinary built-in strings.
 
 This supported-value sealing does not make EgressWeave a Python sandbox. Code
 that is already executing inside the embedding process retains ordinary Python
@@ -51,26 +62,39 @@ integrations.
    ASCII decimal strings are converted before positivity checks.
 3. Shared positive field-count and byte-budget normalizers reject integer
    subclasses and preserve their existing positive-value constraints.
-4. Booleans remain invalid integer configuration even though Python defines
+4. HTTP method entries must be exact built-in strings before whitespace removal
+   or uppercase normalization; non-exact `str` subclasses are rejected.
+5. The exact built-in comma-separated `allowed_methods` form remains supported,
+   but a string subclass is rejected before `split()` can run. RFC 9110 token
+   validation, uppercase canonicalization, and unconditional `CONNECT` rejection
+   remain unchanged.
+6. Booleans remain invalid integer configuration even though Python defines
    `bool` as an `int` subclass.
-5. Existing decimal-string syntax, defaults, public builder signatures, and
+7. Existing decimal-string syntax, defaults, public builder signatures, and
    request-time generic denial behavior remain unchanged.
-6. Invalid trusted startup configuration continues to raise actionable
+8. Invalid trusted startup configuration continues to raise actionable
    field-specific `TypeError` or `ValueError` rather than becoming an opaque
    request-time policy denial.
-7. Regression tests exercise the public `EgressPolicy` constructors so the
+9. Regression tests exercise the public `EgressPolicy` constructors so the
    contract is proven at the API boundary rather than only against internal
    helpers.
 
 ## Operator migration
 
-Applications that supply plain integers or ASCII decimal environment values need
-no change. Applications that pass custom subclasses of `int` for ports or finite
-resource budgets should materialize an exact built-in integer before policy
-construction. This is a pre-1.0 tightening of an ambiguous configuration shape;
-it does not widen egress authority or change any finite default.
+Applications that supply plain integers, ASCII decimal environment values, or
+ordinary built-in HTTP method strings need no change. The existing exact
+comma-separated `allowed_methods` string is also unchanged. Applications that
+pass custom subclasses of `int` for ports or finite resource budgets should
+materialize an exact built-in integer before policy construction; applications
+that pass custom subclasses of `str` for HTTP methods should materialize an
+ordinary built-in string first. This is a pre-1.0 tightening of ambiguous
+configuration shapes; it does not widen egress authority or change any finite
+default.
+
+## References — APA 7th
 
-## Reference — APA 7th
+Fielding, R., Nottingham, M., & Reschke, J. (2022). *HTTP semantics* (RFC 9110;
+STD 97). RFC Editor. https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc9110.html
 
 Python Software Foundation. (2026). *Data model — Python 3.14.6 documentation*.
 https://docs.python.org/3.14/reference/datamodel.html
diff --git a/src/egressweave/_policy_normalization.py b/src/egressweave/_policy_normalization.py
index 0a190a5d..52ecdb86 100644
--- a/src/egressweave/_policy_normalization.py
+++ b/src/egressweave/_policy_normalization.py
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ def _normalize_allowed_method(value: object) -> str:
     is never accepted: its semantics create an application-layer tunnel whose
     destination is independent of the validated URL authority.
     """
-    if not isinstance(value, str):
+    if type(value) is not str:
         raise TypeError("allowed_methods entries must be HTTP method strings")
 
     normalized = value.strip().upper()
diff --git a/src/egressweave/policy.py b/src/egressweave/policy.py
index 1c69a1ff..12e8285a 100644
--- a/src/egressweave/policy.py
+++ b/src/egressweave/policy.py
@@ -244,6 +244,8 @@ def __post_init__(self) -> None:
 
         method_values: Iterable[object]
         if isinstance(self.allowed_methods, str):
+            if type(self.allowed_methods) is not str:
+                raise TypeError("allowed_methods entries must be HTTP method strings")
             method_values = self.allowed_methods.split(",")
         else:
             method_values = self.allowed_methods
@@ -371,6 +373,8 @@ def from_hosts(
 
         method_items: Iterable[str]
         if isinstance(allowed_methods, str):
+            if type(allowed_methods) is not str:
+                raise TypeError("allowed_methods entries must be HTTP method strings")
             method_items = allowed_methods.split(",")
         else:
             method_items = allowed_methods
@@ -434,6 +438,8 @@ def from_authorities(
         )
         method_items: Iterable[str]
         if isinstance(allowed_methods, str):
+            if type(allowed_methods) is not str:
+                raise TypeError("allowed_methods entries must be HTTP method strings")
             method_items = allowed_methods.split(",")
         else:
             method_items = allowed_methods
diff --git a/tests/test_policy_method_value_integrity.py b/tests/test_policy_method_value_integrity.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4fe42e0d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_policy_method_value_integrity.py
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+"""Regression tests for exact built-in HTTP method policy values."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+
+from egressweave.policy import EgressPolicy
+
+
+class _NonExactMethod(str):
+    """Keep subclass identity if trusted normalization invokes polymorphic methods."""
+
+    def strip(self, chars: str | None = None) -> _NonExactMethod:
+        """Return this subclass instead of a canonical built-in string."""
+        return self
+
+    def upper(self) -> _NonExactMethod:
+        """Return this subclass instead of a canonical built-in string."""
+        return self
+
+
+class _ExplodingMethodList(str):
+    """Expose unsafe polymorphic dispatch in comma-separated method parsing."""
+
+    def split(self, sep: str | None = None, maxsplit: int = -1) -> list[str]:
+        """Fail if trusted construction invokes subclass-controlled splitting."""
+        raise AssertionError("string subclass split executed")
+
+
+def test_method_policy_rejects_str_subclass_before_normalization() -> None:
+    """Reject subclass-controlled method normalization during policy construction."""
+    with pytest.raises(
+        TypeError,
+        match="^allowed_methods entries must be HTTP method strings$",
+    ):
+        EgressPolicy.from_hosts(
+            "api.example.com",
+            allowed_methods={_NonExactMethod("GET")},
+        )
+
+
+def test_direct_policy_rejects_str_subclass_before_comma_split() -> None:
+    """Reject a direct comma-string subclass before invoking its split method."""
+    with pytest.raises(
+        TypeError,
+        match="^allowed_methods entries must be HTTP method strings$",
+    ):
+        EgressPolicy(
+            allowed_hosts=frozenset({"api.example.com"}),
+            allowed_methods=_ExplodingMethodList("GET,POST"),
+        )
+
+
+def test_from_hosts_rejects_str_subclass_before_comma_split() -> None:
+    """Reject a host-factory comma-string subclass before invoking split."""
+    with pytest.raises(
+        TypeError,
+        match="^allowed_methods entries must be HTTP method strings$",
+    ):
+        EgressPolicy.from_hosts(
+            "api.example.com",
+            allowed_methods=_ExplodingMethodList("GET,POST"),
+        )
+
+
+def test_from_authorities_rejects_str_subclass_before_comma_split() -> None:
+    """Reject an authority-factory comma-string subclass before invoking split."""
+    with pytest.raises(
+        TypeError,
+        match="^allowed_methods entries must be HTTP method strings$",
+    ):
+        EgressPolicy.from_authorities(
+            [("api.example.com", 443)],
+            allowed_methods=_ExplodingMethodList("GET,POST"),
+        )
+
+
+def test_policy_configuration_integrity_guide_covers_exact_method_strings() -> None:
+    """Document the exact HTTP method value boundary and preserved string syntax."""
+    guide = Path("docs/research/policy-configuration-integrity.md").read_text(
+        encoding="utf-8"
+    )
+
+    assert "exact built-in `str`" in guide
+    assert "HTTP method" in guide
+    assert "comma-separated" in guide
+    assert "does not make EgressWeave a Python sandbox" in guide
+
+
+def test_changelog_records_http_method_value_sealing() -> None:
+    """Record the method-string policy tightening in release history."""
+    changelog = Path("CHANGELOG.md").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+
+    assert "Reject non-exact string subclasses in HTTP method policy values" in changelog