The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer implemented methods for using declarative rules for optimized access to data. One example method includes receiving a structured query language (SQL) query, the SQL query associated with at least one database table and at least one predicate. A determination is made as to whether the SQL query is associated with at least one declarative rule based on the at least one database table and the at least one predicate. In response to determining that the SQL query is associated with at least one declarative rule, the at least one associated declarative rule is applied, during optimization of the SQL query. The at least one declarative rule defines a transformation to the SQL query to be performed during query optimization. An updated SQL query is generated based on the applied at least one associated declarative rule and the updated SQL query is provided.