diff --git a/neutron/conf/common.py b/neutron/conf/common.py
index 6c6edd937de..fb9d4e5ee9c 100644
--- a/neutron/conf/common.py
+++ b/neutron/conf/common.py
@@ -53,9 +53,9 @@ core_opts = [
                       "removed in the Ocata release.")),
     cfg.BoolOpt('allow_bulk', default=True,
                 help=_("Allow the usage of the bulk API")),
-    cfg.BoolOpt('allow_pagination', default=False,
+    cfg.BoolOpt('allow_pagination', default=True,
                 help=_("Allow the usage of the pagination")),
-    cfg.BoolOpt('allow_sorting', default=False,
+    cfg.BoolOpt('allow_sorting', default=True,
                 help=_("Allow the usage of the sorting")),
     cfg.StrOpt('pagination_max_limit', default="-1",
                help=_("The maximum number of items returned in a single "
diff --git a/neutron/tests/contrib/gate_hook.sh b/neutron/tests/contrib/gate_hook.sh
index abcfcf75bc2..69c703f0e93 100644
--- a/neutron/tests/contrib/gate_hook.sh
+++ b/neutron/tests/contrib/gate_hook.sh
@@ -63,8 +63,6 @@ case $VENV in
     # NOTE(ihrachys): note the order of hook post-* sections is significant: [quotas] hook should
     # go before other hooks modifying [DEFAULT]. See LP#1583214 for details.
     load_conf_hook quotas
-    load_conf_hook sorting
-    load_conf_hook pagination
     load_rc_hook qos
     load_rc_hook trunk
     load_conf_hook osprofiler
diff --git a/neutron/tests/contrib/hooks/pagination b/neutron/tests/contrib/hooks/pagination
deleted file mode 100644
index 71b9b99fb7c..00000000000
--- a/neutron/tests/contrib/hooks/pagination
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,9 +0,0 @@
-[[post-extra|$TEMPEST_CONFIG]]
-
-[neutron_plugin_options]
-validate_pagination = True
-
-[[post-config|$NEUTRON_CONF]]
-
-[DEFAULT]
-allow_pagination=True
diff --git a/neutron/tests/contrib/hooks/sorting b/neutron/tests/contrib/hooks/sorting
deleted file mode 100644
index ab0682e0485..00000000000
--- a/neutron/tests/contrib/hooks/sorting
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,9 +0,0 @@
-[[post-extra|$TEMPEST_CONFIG]]
-
-[neutron_plugin_options]
-validate_sorting = True
-
-[[post-config|$NEUTRON_CONF]]
-
-[DEFAULT]
-allow_sorting=True
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/enable-sorting-pagination-754390289d3311fa.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/enable-sorting-pagination-754390289d3311fa.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b9f951eb08e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/enable-sorting-pagination-754390289d3311fa.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+---
+upgrade:
+  - API sorting and pagination features are now enabled by default.