diff --git a/include/sway/commands.h b/include/sway/commands.h
index 3ebd0002..1e93e2a3 100644
--- a/include/sway/commands.h
+++ b/include/sway/commands.h
@@ -152,6 +152,7 @@ sway_cmd cmd_swaybg_command;
 sway_cmd cmd_swap;
 sway_cmd cmd_title_format;
 sway_cmd cmd_unmark;
+sway_cmd cmd_urgent;
 sway_cmd cmd_workspace;
 sway_cmd cmd_ws_auto_back_and_forth;
 sway_cmd cmd_workspace_layout;
diff --git a/include/sway/tree/container.h b/include/sway/tree/container.h
index 04e50fc6..ca7a3288 100644
--- a/include/sway/tree/container.h
+++ b/include/sway/tree/container.h
@@ -316,4 +316,6 @@ void container_floating_move_to(struct sway_container *con,
  */
 void container_set_dirty(struct sway_container *container);
 
+bool container_has_urgent_child(struct sway_container *container);
+
 #endif
diff --git a/include/sway/tree/view.h b/include/sway/tree/view.h
index 21d6403e..9022f7a6 100644
--- a/include/sway/tree/view.h
+++ b/include/sway/tree/view.h
@@ -70,6 +70,10 @@ struct sway_view {
 	bool border_left;
 	bool border_right;
 
+	struct timespec urgent;
+	bool allow_request_urgent;
+	struct wl_event_source *urgent_timer;
+
 	bool destroying;
 
 	list_t *executed_criteria; // struct criteria *
@@ -305,4 +309,8 @@ void view_update_marks_textures(struct sway_view *view);
  */
 bool view_is_visible(struct sway_view *view);
 
+void view_set_urgent(struct sway_view *view, bool enable);
+
+bool view_is_urgent(struct sway_view *view);
+
 #endif
diff --git a/include/sway/tree/workspace.h b/include/sway/tree/workspace.h
index c72a4ac0..bc95317a 100644
--- a/include/sway/tree/workspace.h
+++ b/include/sway/tree/workspace.h
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ struct sway_workspace {
 	struct sway_view *fullscreen;
 	struct sway_container *floating;
 	list_t *output_priority;
+	bool urgent;
 };
 
 extern char *prev_workspace_name;
@@ -42,4 +43,7 @@ void workspace_output_add_priority(struct sway_container *workspace,
 
 struct sway_container *workspace_output_get_highest_available(
 		struct sway_container *ws, struct sway_container *exclude);
+
+void workspace_detect_urgent(struct sway_container *workspace);
+
 #endif
diff --git a/sway/commands.c b/sway/commands.c
index c2ba02cf..27329602 100644
--- a/sway/commands.c
+++ b/sway/commands.c
@@ -154,6 +154,7 @@ static struct cmd_handler command_handlers[] = {
 	{ "swap", cmd_swap },
 	{ "title_format", cmd_title_format },
 	{ "unmark", cmd_unmark },
+	{ "urgent", cmd_urgent },
 };
 
 static int handler_compare(const void *_a, const void *_b) {
diff --git a/sway/commands/urgent.c b/sway/commands/urgent.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d199858a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sway/commands/urgent.c
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+#include "log.h"
+#include "sway/commands.h"
+#include "sway/config.h"
+#include "sway/tree/arrange.h"
+#include "sway/tree/container.h"
+#include "sway/tree/view.h"
+#include "sway/tree/layout.h"
+
+struct cmd_results *cmd_urgent(int argc, char **argv) {
+	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
+	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "urgent", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 1))) {
+		return error;
+	}
+	struct sway_container *container =
+		config->handler_context.current_container;
+	if (container->type != C_VIEW) {
+		return cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, "urgent",
+				"Only views can be urgent");
+	}
+	struct sway_view *view = container->sway_view;
+
+	if (strcmp(argv[0], "enable") == 0) {
+		view_set_urgent(view, true);
+	} else if (strcmp(argv[0], "disable") == 0) {
+		view_set_urgent(view, false);
+	} else if (strcmp(argv[0], "allow") == 0) {
+		view->allow_request_urgent = true;
+	} else if (strcmp(argv[0], "deny") == 0) {
+		view->allow_request_urgent = false;
+	} else {
+		return cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, "urgent",
+				"Expected 'urgent <enable|disable|allow|deny>'");
+	}
+
+	return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
+}
diff --git a/sway/criteria.c b/sway/criteria.c
index 29a3668b..c999d248 100644
--- a/sway/criteria.c
+++ b/sway/criteria.c
@@ -46,6 +46,31 @@ static int regex_cmp(const char *item, const pcre *regex) {
 	return pcre_exec(regex, NULL, item, strlen(item), 0, 0, NULL, 0);
 }
 
+static int cmp_urgent(const void *_a, const void *_b) {
+	struct sway_view *a = *(void **)_a;
+	struct sway_view *b = *(void **)_b;
+
+	if (a->urgent.tv_sec < b->urgent.tv_sec) {
+		return -1;
+	} else if (a->urgent.tv_sec > b->urgent.tv_sec) {
+		return 1;
+	}
+	if (a->urgent.tv_nsec < b->urgent.tv_nsec) {
+		return -1;
+	} else if (a->urgent.tv_nsec > b->urgent.tv_nsec) {
+		return 1;
+	}
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static void find_urgent_iterator(struct sway_container *swayc, void *data) {
+	if (swayc->type != C_VIEW || !view_is_urgent(swayc->sway_view)) {
+		return;
+	}
+	list_t *urgent_views = data;
+	list_add(urgent_views, swayc->sway_view);
+}
+
 static bool criteria_matches_view(struct criteria *criteria,
 		struct sway_view *view) {
 	if (criteria->title) {
@@ -133,8 +158,23 @@ static bool criteria_matches_view(struct criteria *criteria,
 	}
 
 	if (criteria->urgent) {
-		// TODO
-		return false;
+		if (!view_is_urgent(view)) {
+			return false;
+		}
+		list_t *urgent_views = create_list();
+		container_for_each_descendant_dfs(&root_container,
+				find_urgent_iterator, urgent_views);
+		list_stable_sort(urgent_views, cmp_urgent);
+		struct sway_view *target;
+		if (criteria->urgent == 'o') { // oldest
+			target = urgent_views->items[0];
+		} else { // latest
+			target = urgent_views->items[urgent_views->length - 1];
+		}
+		list_free(urgent_views);
+		if (view != target) {
+			return false;
+		}
 	}
 
 	if (criteria->workspace) {
diff --git a/sway/desktop/render.c b/sway/desktop/render.c
index 17fe823a..cb995215 100644
--- a/sway/desktop/render.c
+++ b/sway/desktop/render.c
@@ -553,7 +553,11 @@ static void render_container_simple(struct sway_output *output,
 			struct wlr_texture *marks_texture;
 			struct sway_container_state *state = &child->current;
 
-			if (state->focused || parent_focused) {
+			if (view_is_urgent(view)) {
+				colors = &config->border_colors.urgent;
+				title_texture = child->title_urgent;
+				marks_texture = view->marks_urgent;
+			} else if (state->focused || parent_focused) {
 				colors = &config->border_colors.focused;
 				title_texture = child->title_focused;
 				marks_texture = view->marks_focused;
@@ -607,8 +611,14 @@ static void render_container_tabbed(struct sway_output *output,
 		struct border_colors *colors;
 		struct wlr_texture *title_texture;
 		struct wlr_texture *marks_texture;
-
-		if (cstate->focused || parent_focused) {
+		bool urgent = view ?
+			view_is_urgent(view) : container_has_urgent_child(child);
+
+		if (urgent) {
+			colors = &config->border_colors.urgent;
+			title_texture = child->title_urgent;
+			marks_texture = view ? view->marks_urgent : NULL;
+		} else if (cstate->focused || parent_focused) {
 			colors = &config->border_colors.focused;
 			title_texture = child->title_focused;
 			marks_texture = view ? view->marks_focused : NULL;
@@ -670,8 +680,14 @@ static void render_container_stacked(struct sway_output *output,
 		struct border_colors *colors;
 		struct wlr_texture *title_texture;
 		struct wlr_texture *marks_texture;
-
-		if (cstate->focused || parent_focused) {
+		bool urgent = view ?
+			view_is_urgent(view) : container_has_urgent_child(child);
+
+		if (urgent) {
+			colors = &config->border_colors.urgent;
+			title_texture = child->title_urgent;
+			marks_texture = view ? view->marks_urgent : NULL;
+		} else if (cstate->focused || parent_focused) {
 			colors = &config->border_colors.focused;
 			title_texture = child->title_focused;
 			marks_texture = view ? view->marks_focused : NULL;
@@ -731,7 +747,11 @@ static void render_floating_container(struct sway_output *soutput,
 		struct wlr_texture *title_texture;
 		struct wlr_texture *marks_texture;
 
-		if (con->current.focused) {
+		if (view_is_urgent(view)) {
+			colors = &config->border_colors.urgent;
+			title_texture = con->title_urgent;
+			marks_texture = view->marks_urgent;
+		} else if (con->current.focused) {
 			colors = &config->border_colors.focused;
 			title_texture = con->title_focused;
 			marks_texture = view->marks_focused;
diff --git a/sway/desktop/xwayland.c b/sway/desktop/xwayland.c
index 11516673..9df7977d 100644
--- a/sway/desktop/xwayland.c
+++ b/sway/desktop/xwayland.c
@@ -297,6 +297,10 @@ static void handle_commit(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
 	}
 
 	view_damage_from(view);
+
+	if (view->allow_request_urgent) {
+		view_set_urgent(view, (bool)xsurface->hints_urgency);
+	}
 }
 
 static void handle_unmap(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
diff --git a/sway/input/seat.c b/sway/input/seat.c
index 85321dbe..12b1fab5 100644
--- a/sway/input/seat.c
+++ b/sway/input/seat.c
@@ -594,6 +594,12 @@ static void seat_send_unfocus(struct sway_container *container,
 	}
 }
 
+static int handle_urgent_timeout(void *data) {
+	struct sway_view *view = data;
+	view_set_urgent(view, false);
+	return 0;
+}
+
 void seat_set_focus_warp(struct sway_seat *seat,
 		struct sway_container *container, bool warp) {
 	if (seat->focused_layer) {
@@ -671,6 +677,16 @@ void seat_set_focus_warp(struct sway_seat *seat,
 		}
 	}
 
+	// If urgent, start a timer to unset it
+	if (container && container->type == C_VIEW &&
+			view_is_urgent(container->sway_view) &&
+			!container->sway_view->urgent_timer) {
+		struct sway_view *view = container->sway_view;
+		view->urgent_timer = wl_event_loop_add_timer(server.wl_event_loop,
+				handle_urgent_timeout, view);
+		wl_event_source_timer_update(view->urgent_timer, 1000);
+	}
+
 	// If we've focused a floating container, bring it to the front.
 	// We do this by putting it at the end of the floating list.
 	// This must happen for both the pending and current children lists.
diff --git a/sway/ipc-json.c b/sway/ipc-json.c
index 3d0e88f0..c49ea47e 100644
--- a/sway/ipc-json.c
+++ b/sway/ipc-json.c
@@ -170,7 +170,8 @@ static void ipc_json_describe_workspace(struct sway_container *workspace,
 	json_object_object_add(object, "output", workspace->parent ?
 			json_object_new_string(workspace->parent->name) : NULL);
 	json_object_object_add(object, "type", json_object_new_string("workspace"));
-	json_object_object_add(object, "urgent", json_object_new_boolean(false));
+	json_object_object_add(object, "urgent",
+			json_object_new_boolean(workspace->sway_workspace->urgent));
 	json_object_object_add(object, "representation", workspace->formatted_title ?
 			json_object_new_string(workspace->formatted_title) : NULL);
 
@@ -196,6 +197,10 @@ static void ipc_json_describe_view(struct sway_container *c, json_object *object
 		json_object_object_add(object, "layout",
 			json_object_new_string(ipc_json_layout_description(c->layout)));
 	}
+
+	bool urgent = c->type == C_VIEW ?
+		view_is_urgent(c->sway_view) : container_has_urgent_child(c);
+	json_object_object_add(object, "urgent", json_object_new_boolean(urgent));
 }
 
 static void focus_inactive_children_iterator(struct sway_container *c, void *data) {
diff --git a/sway/meson.build b/sway/meson.build
index 4afef7b4..23e54a62 100644
--- a/sway/meson.build
+++ b/sway/meson.build
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ sway_sources = files(
 	'commands/swap.c',
 	'commands/title_format.c',
 	'commands/unmark.c',
+	'commands/urgent.c',
 	'commands/workspace.c',
 	'commands/workspace_layout.c',
 	'commands/ws_auto_back_and_forth.c',
diff --git a/sway/sway.5.scd b/sway/sway.5.scd
index c6eb5e6d..d369d7b6 100644
--- a/sway/sway.5.scd
+++ b/sway/sway.5.scd
@@ -499,6 +499,11 @@ config after the others, or it will be matched instead of the others.
 	*unmark* will remove _identifier_ from the list of current marks on a
 	window. If _identifier_ is omitted, all marks are removed.
 
+*urgent* enable|disable|allow|deny
+	Using _enable_ or _disable_ manually sets or unsets the window's urgent
+	state. Using _allow_ or _deny_ controls the window's ability to set itself
+	as urgent. By default, windows are allowed to set their own urgency.
+
 *workspace* [number] <name>
 	Switches to the specified workspace. The string "number" is optional and is
 	used to sort workspaces.
diff --git a/sway/tree/container.c b/sway/tree/container.c
index 35f67cce..6d52c38c 100644
--- a/sway/tree/container.c
+++ b/sway/tree/container.c
@@ -674,16 +674,23 @@ struct sway_container *floating_container_at(double lx, double ly,
 void container_for_each_descendant_dfs(struct sway_container *container,
 		void (*f)(struct sway_container *container, void *data),
 		void *data) {
-	if (container) {
-		if (container->children)  {
-			for (int i = 0; i < container->children->length; ++i) {
-				struct sway_container *child =
-					container->children->items[i];
-				container_for_each_descendant_dfs(child, f, data);
-			}
+	if (!container) {
+		return;
+	}
+	if (container->children)  {
+		for (int i = 0; i < container->children->length; ++i) {
+			struct sway_container *child = container->children->items[i];
+			container_for_each_descendant_dfs(child, f, data);
+		}
+	}
+	if (container->type == C_WORKSPACE)  {
+		struct sway_container *floating = container->sway_workspace->floating;
+		for (int i = 0; i < floating->children->length; ++i) {
+			struct sway_container *child = floating->children->items[i];
+			container_for_each_descendant_dfs(child, f, data);
 		}
-		f(container, data);
 	}
+	f(container, data);
 }
 
 void container_for_each_descendant_bfs(struct sway_container *con,
@@ -1063,6 +1070,8 @@ void container_floating_move_to(struct sway_container *con,
 		container_add_child(new_workspace->sway_workspace->floating, con);
 		arrange_windows(old_workspace);
 		arrange_windows(new_workspace);
+		workspace_detect_urgent(old_workspace);
+		workspace_detect_urgent(new_workspace);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -1073,3 +1082,12 @@ void container_set_dirty(struct sway_container *container) {
 	container->dirty = true;
 	list_add(server.dirty_containers, container);
 }
+
+static bool find_urgent_iterator(struct sway_container *con,
+		void *data) {
+	return con->type == C_VIEW && view_is_urgent(con->sway_view);
+}
+
+bool container_has_urgent_child(struct sway_container *container) {
+	return container_find(container, find_urgent_iterator, NULL);
+}
diff --git a/sway/tree/layout.c b/sway/tree/layout.c
index 54ddb3f9..197a2fc8 100644
--- a/sway/tree/layout.c
+++ b/sway/tree/layout.c
@@ -225,6 +225,15 @@ void container_move_to(struct sway_container *container,
 			}
 		}
 	}
+	// Update workspace urgent state
+	struct sway_container *old_workspace = old_parent;
+	if (old_workspace->type != C_WORKSPACE) {
+		old_workspace = container_parent(old_workspace, C_WORKSPACE);
+	}
+	if (new_workspace != old_workspace) {
+		workspace_detect_urgent(new_workspace);
+		workspace_detect_urgent(old_workspace);
+	}
 }
 
 static bool sway_dir_to_wlr(enum movement_direction dir,
@@ -548,6 +557,8 @@ void container_move(struct sway_container *container,
 	}
 	if (last_ws && next_ws && last_ws != next_ws) {
 		ipc_event_workspace(last_ws, container, "focus");
+		workspace_detect_urgent(last_ws);
+		workspace_detect_urgent(next_ws);
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/sway/tree/view.c b/sway/tree/view.c
index 10c97518..76e0f42c 100644
--- a/sway/tree/view.c
+++ b/sway/tree/view.c
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ void view_init(struct sway_view *view, enum sway_view_type type,
 	view->impl = impl;
 	view->executed_criteria = create_list();
 	view->marks = create_list();
+	view->allow_request_urgent = true;
 	wl_signal_init(&view->events.unmap);
 }
 
@@ -609,16 +610,26 @@ void view_unmap(struct sway_view *view) {
 	wl_list_remove(&view->surface_new_subsurface.link);
 	wl_list_remove(&view->container_reparent.link);
 
+	if (view->urgent_timer) {
+		wl_event_source_remove(view->urgent_timer);
+		view->urgent_timer = NULL;
+	}
+
+	struct sway_container *parent;
+	struct sway_container *ws = container_parent(view->swayc, C_WORKSPACE);
+
 	if (view->is_fullscreen) {
-		struct sway_container *ws = container_parent(view->swayc, C_WORKSPACE);
 		ws->sway_workspace->fullscreen = NULL;
-		container_destroy(view->swayc);
+		parent = container_destroy(view->swayc);
 
 		arrange_windows(ws->parent);
 	} else {
 		struct sway_container *parent = container_destroy(view->swayc);
 		arrange_windows(parent);
 	}
+	if (parent->type >= C_WORKSPACE) { // if the workspace still exists
+		workspace_detect_urgent(ws);
+	}
 	transaction_commit_dirty();
 	view->surface = NULL;
 }
@@ -1067,3 +1078,29 @@ bool view_is_visible(struct sway_view *view) {
 	}
 	return true;
 }
+
+void view_set_urgent(struct sway_view *view, bool enable) {
+	if (enable) {
+		struct sway_seat *seat = input_manager_current_seat(input_manager);
+		if (seat_get_focus(seat) == view->swayc) {
+			return;
+		}
+		clock_gettime(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, &view->urgent);
+	} else {
+		view->urgent = (struct timespec){ 0 };
+		if (view->urgent_timer) {
+			wl_event_source_remove(view->urgent_timer);
+			view->urgent_timer = NULL;
+		}
+	}
+	container_damage_whole(view->swayc);
+
+	ipc_event_window(view->swayc, "urgent");
+
+	struct sway_container *ws = container_parent(view->swayc, C_WORKSPACE);
+	workspace_detect_urgent(ws);
+}
+
+bool view_is_urgent(struct sway_view *view) {
+	return view->urgent.tv_sec || view->urgent.tv_nsec;
+}
diff --git a/sway/tree/workspace.c b/sway/tree/workspace.c
index 2a2d834a..622f01ec 100644
--- a/sway/tree/workspace.c
+++ b/sway/tree/workspace.c
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #include "sway/ipc-server.h"
 #include "sway/tree/arrange.h"
 #include "sway/tree/container.h"
+#include "sway/tree/view.h"
 #include "sway/tree/workspace.h"
 #include "list.h"
 #include "log.h"
@@ -518,3 +519,13 @@ struct sway_container *workspace_output_get_highest_available(
 
 	return NULL;
 }
+
+void workspace_detect_urgent(struct sway_container *workspace) {
+	bool new_urgent = container_has_urgent_child(workspace);
+
+	if (workspace->sway_workspace->urgent != new_urgent) {
+		workspace->sway_workspace->urgent = new_urgent;
+		ipc_event_workspace(NULL, workspace, "urgent");
+		container_damage_whole(workspace);
+	}
+}
diff --git a/swaybar/ipc.c b/swaybar/ipc.c
index 08531f2a..c2d05920 100644
--- a/swaybar/ipc.c
+++ b/swaybar/ipc.c
@@ -115,6 +115,18 @@ static void ipc_parse_colors(
 		config->colors.inactive_workspace.text = parse_color(
 				json_object_get_string(inactive_workspace_text));
 	}
+	if (urgent_workspace_border) {
+		config->colors.urgent_workspace.border = parse_color(
+				json_object_get_string(urgent_workspace_border));
+	}
+	if (urgent_workspace_bg) {
+		config->colors.urgent_workspace.background = parse_color(
+				json_object_get_string(urgent_workspace_bg));
+	}
+	if (urgent_workspace_text) {
+		config->colors.urgent_workspace.text = parse_color(
+				json_object_get_string(urgent_workspace_text));
+	}
 	if (binding_mode_border) {
 		config->colors.binding_mode.border = parse_color(
 				json_object_get_string(binding_mode_border));