diff --git a/crates/ruff_linter/resources/test/fixtures/ruff/RUF029.py b/crates/ruff_linter/resources/test/fixtures/ruff/RUF029.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e2a6cf0af7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/ruff_linter/resources/test/fixtures/ruff/RUF029.py
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+import time
+import asyncio
+
+
+async def pass_1a():  # OK: awaits a coroutine
+    await asyncio.sleep(1)
+
+
+async def pass_1b():  # OK: awaits a coroutine
+    def foo(optional_arg=await bar()):
+        pass
+
+
+async def pass_2():  # OK: uses an async context manager
+    async with None as i:
+        pass
+
+
+async def pass_3():  # OK: uses an async loop
+    async for i in []:
+        pass
+
+
+class Foo:
+    async def pass_4():  # OK: method of a class
+        pass
+
+
+def foo():
+    async def pass_5():  # OK: uses an await
+        await bla
+
+
+async def fail_1a():  # RUF029
+    time.sleep(1)
+
+
+async def fail_1b():  # RUF029: yield does not require async
+    yield "hello"
+
+
+async def fail_2():  # RUF029
+    with None as i:
+        pass
+
+
+async def fail_3():  # RUF029
+    for i in []:
+        pass
+
+    return foo
+
+
+async def fail_4a():  # RUF029: the /outer/ function does not await
+    async def foo():
+        await bla
+
+
+async def fail_4b():  # RUF029: the /outer/ function does not await
+    class Foo:
+        async def foo():
+            await bla
+
+
+def foo():
+    async def fail_4c():  # RUF029: the /inner/ function does not await
+        pass
diff --git a/crates/ruff_linter/src/checkers/ast/analyze/statement.rs b/crates/ruff_linter/src/checkers/ast/analyze/statement.rs
index e3ca7a6d11..8eaf670f22 100644
--- a/crates/ruff_linter/src/checkers/ast/analyze/statement.rs
+++ b/crates/ruff_linter/src/checkers/ast/analyze/statement.rs
@@ -348,6 +348,9 @@ pub(crate) fn statement(stmt: &Stmt, checker: &mut Checker) {
             if checker.enabled(Rule::SslWithBadDefaults) {
                 flake8_bandit::rules::ssl_with_bad_defaults(checker, function_def);
             }
+            if checker.enabled(Rule::UnusedAsync) {
+                ruff::rules::unused_async(checker, function_def);
+            }
         }
         Stmt::Return(_) => {
             if checker.enabled(Rule::ReturnOutsideFunction) {
diff --git a/crates/ruff_linter/src/codes.rs b/crates/ruff_linter/src/codes.rs
index dae1651b78..ec5ae9e792 100644
--- a/crates/ruff_linter/src/codes.rs
+++ b/crates/ruff_linter/src/codes.rs
@@ -963,6 +963,7 @@ pub fn code_to_rule(linter: Linter, code: &str) -> Option<(RuleGroup, Rule)> {
         (Ruff, "026") => (RuleGroup::Preview, rules::ruff::rules::DefaultFactoryKwarg),
         (Ruff, "027") => (RuleGroup::Preview, rules::ruff::rules::MissingFStringSyntax),
         (Ruff, "028") => (RuleGroup::Preview, rules::ruff::rules::InvalidFormatterSuppressionComment),
+        (Ruff, "029") => (RuleGroup::Preview, rules::ruff::rules::UnusedAsync),
         (Ruff, "100") => (RuleGroup::Stable, rules::ruff::rules::UnusedNOQA),
         (Ruff, "200") => (RuleGroup::Stable, rules::ruff::rules::InvalidPyprojectToml),
         #[cfg(feature = "test-rules")]
diff --git a/crates/ruff_linter/src/rules/ruff/mod.rs b/crates/ruff_linter/src/rules/ruff/mod.rs
index 6d2d76f544..b26cfa6afb 100644
--- a/crates/ruff_linter/src/rules/ruff/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/ruff_linter/src/rules/ruff/mod.rs
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ mod tests {
     #[test_case(Rule::MissingFStringSyntax, Path::new("RUF027_1.py"))]
     #[test_case(Rule::MissingFStringSyntax, Path::new("RUF027_2.py"))]
     #[test_case(Rule::InvalidFormatterSuppressionComment, Path::new("RUF028.py"))]
+    #[test_case(Rule::UnusedAsync, Path::new("RUF029.py"))]
     fn rules(rule_code: Rule, path: &Path) -> Result<()> {
         let snapshot = format!("{}_{}", rule_code.noqa_code(), path.to_string_lossy());
         let diagnostics = test_path(
diff --git a/crates/ruff_linter/src/rules/ruff/rules/mod.rs b/crates/ruff_linter/src/rules/ruff/rules/mod.rs
index d4461f1f3b..b4f53564c7 100644
--- a/crates/ruff_linter/src/rules/ruff/rules/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/ruff_linter/src/rules/ruff/rules/mod.rs
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ pub(crate) use test_rules::*;
 pub(crate) use unnecessary_dict_comprehension_for_iterable::*;
 pub(crate) use unnecessary_iterable_allocation_for_first_element::*;
 pub(crate) use unnecessary_key_check::*;
+pub(crate) use unused_async::*;
 pub(crate) use unused_noqa::*;
 
 mod ambiguous_unicode_character;
@@ -58,6 +59,7 @@ pub(crate) mod test_rules;
 mod unnecessary_dict_comprehension_for_iterable;
 mod unnecessary_iterable_allocation_for_first_element;
 mod unnecessary_key_check;
+mod unused_async;
 mod unused_noqa;
 
 #[derive(Clone, Copy)]
diff --git a/crates/ruff_linter/src/rules/ruff/rules/unused_async.rs b/crates/ruff_linter/src/rules/ruff/rules/unused_async.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..470b16cfa8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/ruff_linter/src/rules/ruff/rules/unused_async.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,177 @@
+use ruff_diagnostics::{Diagnostic, Violation};
+use ruff_macros::{derive_message_formats, violation};
+use ruff_python_ast::identifier::Identifier;
+use ruff_python_ast::visitor::preorder;
+use ruff_python_ast::{self as ast, AnyNodeRef, Expr, Stmt};
+
+use crate::checkers::ast::Checker;
+
+/// ## What it does
+/// Checks for functions declared `async` that do not await or otherwise use features requiring the
+/// function to be declared `async`.
+///
+/// ## Why is this bad?
+/// Declaring a function `async` when it's not is usually a mistake, and will artificially limit the
+/// contexts where that function may be called. In some cases, labeling a function `async` is
+/// semantically meaningful (e.g. with the trio library).
+///
+/// ## Examples
+/// ```python
+/// async def foo():
+///     bar()
+/// ```
+///
+/// Use instead:
+/// ```python
+/// def foo():
+///     bar()
+/// ```
+#[violation]
+pub struct UnusedAsync {
+    name: String,
+}
+
+impl Violation for UnusedAsync {
+    #[derive_message_formats]
+    fn message(&self) -> String {
+        let UnusedAsync { name } = self;
+        format!(
+            "Function `{name}` is declared `async`, but doesn't `await` or use `async` features."
+        )
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Default)]
+struct AsyncExprVisitor {
+    found_await_or_async: bool,
+}
+
+/// Traverse a function's body to find whether it contains an await-expr, an async-with, or an
+/// async-for. Stop traversing after one is found. The bodies of inner-functions and inner-classes
+/// aren't traversed.
+impl<'a> preorder::PreorderVisitor<'a> for AsyncExprVisitor {
+    fn enter_node(&mut self, _node: AnyNodeRef<'a>) -> preorder::TraversalSignal {
+        if self.found_await_or_async {
+            preorder::TraversalSignal::Skip
+        } else {
+            preorder::TraversalSignal::Traverse
+        }
+    }
+    fn visit_expr(&mut self, expr: &'a Expr) {
+        match expr {
+            Expr::Await(_) => {
+                self.found_await_or_async = true;
+            }
+            _ => preorder::walk_expr(self, expr),
+        }
+    }
+    fn visit_stmt(&mut self, stmt: &'a Stmt) {
+        match stmt {
+            Stmt::With(ast::StmtWith { is_async: true, .. }) => {
+                self.found_await_or_async = true;
+            }
+            Stmt::For(ast::StmtFor { is_async: true, .. }) => {
+                self.found_await_or_async = true;
+            }
+            // avoid counting inner classes' or functions' bodies toward the search
+            Stmt::FunctionDef(function_def) => {
+                function_def_visit_preorder_except_body(function_def, self);
+            }
+            Stmt::ClassDef(class_def) => {
+                class_def_visit_preorder_except_body(class_def, self);
+            }
+            _ => preorder::walk_stmt(self, stmt),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Very nearly `crate::node::StmtFunctionDef.visit_preorder`, except it is specialized and,
+/// crucially, doesn't traverse the body.
+fn function_def_visit_preorder_except_body<'a, V>(
+    function_def: &'a ast::StmtFunctionDef,
+    visitor: &mut V,
+) where
+    V: preorder::PreorderVisitor<'a>,
+{
+    let ast::StmtFunctionDef {
+        parameters,
+        decorator_list,
+        returns,
+        type_params,
+        ..
+    } = function_def;
+
+    for decorator in decorator_list {
+        visitor.visit_decorator(decorator);
+    }
+
+    if let Some(type_params) = type_params {
+        visitor.visit_type_params(type_params);
+    }
+
+    visitor.visit_parameters(parameters);
+
+    for expr in returns {
+        visitor.visit_annotation(expr);
+    }
+}
+
+/// Very nearly `crate::node::StmtClassDef.visit_preorder`, except it is specialized and,
+/// crucially, doesn't traverse the body.
+fn class_def_visit_preorder_except_body<'a, V>(class_def: &'a ast::StmtClassDef, visitor: &mut V)
+where
+    V: preorder::PreorderVisitor<'a>,
+{
+    let ast::StmtClassDef {
+        arguments,
+        decorator_list,
+        type_params,
+        ..
+    } = class_def;
+
+    for decorator in decorator_list {
+        visitor.visit_decorator(decorator);
+    }
+
+    if let Some(type_params) = type_params {
+        visitor.visit_type_params(type_params);
+    }
+
+    if let Some(arguments) = arguments {
+        visitor.visit_arguments(arguments);
+    }
+}
+
+/// RUF029
+pub(crate) fn unused_async(
+    checker: &mut Checker,
+    function_def @ ast::StmtFunctionDef {
+        is_async,
+        name,
+        body,
+        ..
+    }: &ast::StmtFunctionDef,
+) {
+    if !is_async {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    if checker.semantic().current_scope().kind.is_class() {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    let found_await_or_async = {
+        let mut visitor = AsyncExprVisitor::default();
+        preorder::walk_body(&mut visitor, body);
+        visitor.found_await_or_async
+    };
+
+    if !found_await_or_async {
+        checker.diagnostics.push(Diagnostic::new(
+            UnusedAsync {
+                name: name.to_string(),
+            },
+            function_def.identifier(),
+        ));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/ruff_linter/src/rules/ruff/snapshots/ruff_linter__rules__ruff__tests__RUF029_RUF029.py.snap b/crates/ruff_linter/src/rules/ruff/snapshots/ruff_linter__rules__ruff__tests__RUF029_RUF029.py.snap
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fba1b92b00
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/ruff_linter/src/rules/ruff/snapshots/ruff_linter__rules__ruff__tests__RUF029_RUF029.py.snap
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+---
+source: crates/ruff_linter/src/rules/ruff/mod.rs
+---
+RUF029.py:34:11: RUF029 Function `fail_1a` is declared `async`, but doesn't `await` or use `async` features.
+   |
+34 | async def fail_1a():  # RUF029
+   |           ^^^^^^^ RUF029
+35 |     time.sleep(1)
+   |
+
+RUF029.py:38:11: RUF029 Function `fail_1b` is declared `async`, but doesn't `await` or use `async` features.
+   |
+38 | async def fail_1b():  # RUF029: yield does not require async
+   |           ^^^^^^^ RUF029
+39 |     yield "hello"
+   |
+
+RUF029.py:42:11: RUF029 Function `fail_2` is declared `async`, but doesn't `await` or use `async` features.
+   |
+42 | async def fail_2():  # RUF029
+   |           ^^^^^^ RUF029
+43 |     with None as i:
+44 |         pass
+   |
+
+RUF029.py:47:11: RUF029 Function `fail_3` is declared `async`, but doesn't `await` or use `async` features.
+   |
+47 | async def fail_3():  # RUF029
+   |           ^^^^^^ RUF029
+48 |     for i in []:
+49 |         pass
+   |
+
+RUF029.py:54:11: RUF029 Function `fail_4a` is declared `async`, but doesn't `await` or use `async` features.
+   |
+54 | async def fail_4a():  # RUF029: the /outer/ function does not await
+   |           ^^^^^^^ RUF029
+55 |     async def foo():
+56 |         await bla
+   |
+
+RUF029.py:59:11: RUF029 Function `fail_4b` is declared `async`, but doesn't `await` or use `async` features.
+   |
+59 | async def fail_4b():  # RUF029: the /outer/ function does not await
+   |           ^^^^^^^ RUF029
+60 |     class Foo:
+61 |         async def foo():
+   |
+
+RUF029.py:66:15: RUF029 Function `fail_4c` is declared `async`, but doesn't `await` or use `async` features.
+   |
+65 | def foo():
+66 |     async def fail_4c():  # RUF029: the /inner/ function does not await
+   |               ^^^^^^^ RUF029
+67 |         pass
+   |
diff --git a/ruff.schema.json b/ruff.schema.json
index 92d0325971..90582fc675 100644
--- a/ruff.schema.json
+++ b/ruff.schema.json
@@ -3619,6 +3619,7 @@
         "RUF026",
         "RUF027",
         "RUF028",
+        "RUF029",
         "RUF1",
         "RUF10",
         "RUF100",