diff --git a/docs/react/guides/nextjs.md b/docs/react/guides/nextjs.md
index 0d589affeb..9ee11a36be 100644
--- a/docs/react/guides/nextjs.md
+++ b/docs/react/guides/nextjs.md
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ happynrwl/
 │   │   ├── jest.conf.js
 │   │   ├── tsconfig.json
 │   │   ├── tsconfig.spec.json
-│   │   └── .eslintrc
+│   │   └── .eslintrc.json
 │   └── tuskdesk-e2e/
 │   │   ├── src/
 │   │   │   ├── integrations/
@@ -54,14 +54,14 @@ happynrwl/
 │   │   │   └── support/
 │   │   ├── cypress.json
 │   │   ├── tsconfig.e2e.json
-│   │   └── .eslintrc
+│   │   └── .eslintrc.json
 ├── libs/
 ├── workspace.json
 ├── nx.json
 ├── package.json
 ├── tools/
 ├── tsconfig.json
-└── .eslintrc
+└── .eslintrc.json
 ```
 
 Run:
diff --git a/docs/shared/monorepo-nx-enterprise.md b/docs/shared/monorepo-nx-enterprise.md
index 96de8891ab..483214ac36 100644
--- a/docs/shared/monorepo-nx-enterprise.md
+++ b/docs/shared/monorepo-nx-enterprise.md
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ Read more about workspace schematics in the Workspace Schematics guide.
 
 ### Workspace Lint Checks
 
-Custom lint checks is another great way to enforce best practices. We can create custom lint checks in the `tools/lint` directory and then register them in `tslint.json`or `.eslintrc`.
+Custom lint checks is another great way to enforce best practices. We can create custom lint checks in the `tools/lint` directory and then register them in `tslint.json`or `.eslintrc.json`.
 
 ## Developer Workflow
 
diff --git a/docs/shared/monorepo-tags.md b/docs/shared/monorepo-tags.md
index 0917384a44..526f0b53c2 100644
--- a/docs/shared/monorepo-tags.md
+++ b/docs/shared/monorepo-tags.md
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ First, use `nx.json` to annotate your projects with tags. In this example, we wi
 }
 ```
 
-Next open the top-level `.eslintrc` or `tslint.json` to add the constraints.
+Next open the top-level `.eslintrc.json` or `tslint.json` to add the constraints.
 
 ```json
 {
diff --git a/docs/shared/next-plugin.md b/docs/shared/next-plugin.md
index 9f16b4e0f7..e4fd1c38fc 100644
--- a/docs/shared/next-plugin.md
+++ b/docs/shared/next-plugin.md
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ myorg/
 │   │   ├── jest.conf.js
 │   │   ├── tsconfig.json
 │   │   ├── tsconfig.spec.json
-│   │   └── .eslintrc
+│   │   └── .eslintrc.json
 │   └── myapp-e2e/
 │   │   ├── src/
 │   │   │   ├── integrations/
@@ -48,14 +48,14 @@ myorg/
 │   │   │   └── support/
 │   │   ├── cypress.json
 │   │   ├── tsconfig.e2e.json
-│   │   └── .eslintrc
+│   │   └── .eslintrc.json
 ├── libs/
 ├── workspace.json
 ├── nx.json
 ├── package.json
 ├── tools/
 ├── tsconfig.json
-└── .eslintrc
+└── .eslintrc.json
 ```
 
 ## See Also
diff --git a/e2e/linter/src/linter.test.ts b/e2e/linter/src/linter.test.ts
index b9bb803cd4..4cde759ca3 100644
--- a/e2e/linter/src/linter.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/linter/src/linter.test.ts
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@ forEachCli('nx', () => {
 
       runCLI(`generate @nrwl/react:app ${myapp}`);
 
-      const eslintrc = readJson('.eslintrc');
+      const eslintrc = readJson('.eslintrc.json');
       eslintrc.rules['no-console'] = 'error';
-      updateFile('.eslintrc', JSON.stringify(eslintrc, null, 2));
+      updateFile('.eslintrc.json', JSON.stringify(eslintrc, null, 2));
 
       updateFile(`apps/${myapp}/src/main.ts`, `console.log("should fail");`);
 
@@ -34,9 +34,9 @@ forEachCli('nx', () => {
 
       runCLI(`generate @nrwl/react:app ${myapp}`);
 
-      const eslintrc = readJson('.eslintrc');
+      const eslintrc = readJson('.eslintrc.json');
       eslintrc.rules['no-console'] = 'error';
-      updateFile('.eslintrc', JSON.stringify(eslintrc, null, 2));
+      updateFile('.eslintrc.json', JSON.stringify(eslintrc, null, 2));
 
       updateFile(`apps/${myapp}/src/main.ts`, `console.log("should fail");`);
 
@@ -49,9 +49,9 @@ forEachCli('nx', () => {
 
       runCLI(`generate @nrwl/react:app ${myapp}`);
 
-      const eslintrc = readJson('.eslintrc');
+      const eslintrc = readJson('.eslintrc.json');
       eslintrc.rules['no-console'] = undefined;
-      updateFile('.eslintrc', JSON.stringify(eslintrc, null, 2));
+      updateFile('.eslintrc.json', JSON.stringify(eslintrc, null, 2));
 
       updateFile(`apps/${myapp}/src/main.ts`, `console.log("should fail");`);
 
@@ -81,9 +81,9 @@ forEachCli('nx', () => {
       };
       updateFile('workspace.json', JSON.stringify(workspaceJson, null, 2));
 
-      const eslintrc = readJson('.eslintrc');
+      const eslintrc = readJson('.eslintrc.json');
       eslintrc.rules['no-console'] = undefined;
-      updateFile('.eslintrc', JSON.stringify(eslintrc, null, 2));
+      updateFile('.eslintrc.json', JSON.stringify(eslintrc, null, 2));
 
       updateFile(`apps/${myapp}/src/main.ts`, `console.log("should fail");`);
 
@@ -129,9 +129,9 @@ forEachCli('nx', () => {
 
       runCLI(`generate @nrwl/react:app ${myapp}`);
 
-      const eslintrc = readJson('.eslintrc');
+      const eslintrc = readJson('.eslintrc.json');
       eslintrc.rules['no-console'] = 'error';
-      updateFile('.eslintrc', JSON.stringify(eslintrc, null, 2));
+      updateFile('.eslintrc.json', JSON.stringify(eslintrc, null, 2));
       updateFile(`apps/${myapp}/src/main.ts`, `console.log("should fail");`);
 
       const outputFile = 'a/b/c/lint-output.json';
@@ -167,9 +167,12 @@ forEachCli('nx', () => {
 
     runCLI(`generate @nrwl/react:app ${myapp}`);
 
-    const eslintrc = readJson(`apps/${myapp}/.eslintrc`);
+    const eslintrc = readJson(`apps/${myapp}/.eslintrc.json`);
     eslintrc.rules['no-console'] = 'warn';
-    updateFile(`apps/${myapp}/.eslintrc`, JSON.stringify(eslintrc, null, 2));
+    updateFile(
+      `apps/${myapp}/.eslintrc.json`,
+      JSON.stringify(eslintrc, null, 2)
+    );
     updateFile(
       `apps/${myapp}/src/main.ts`,
       `console.log('once'); console.log('twice');`
diff --git a/packages/cypress/src/schematics/cypress-project/cypress-project.spec.ts b/packages/cypress/src/schematics/cypress-project/cypress-project.spec.ts
index 9effad414a..e0a1493000 100644
--- a/packages/cypress/src/schematics/cypress-project/cypress-project.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/cypress/src/schematics/cypress-project/cypress-project.spec.ts
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ describe('schematic:cypress-project', () => {
           const packageJson = readJsonInTree(tree, 'package.json');
           const eslintrcJson = readJsonInTree(
             tree,
-            'apps/my-app-e2e/.eslintrc'
+            'apps/my-app-e2e/.eslintrc.json'
           );
 
           expect(
diff --git a/packages/linter/migrations.json b/packages/linter/migrations.json
index 9e562700f9..6bbf5dea70 100644
--- a/packages/linter/migrations.json
+++ b/packages/linter/migrations.json
@@ -9,6 +9,11 @@
       "version": "10.3.0-beta.0",
       "description": "Migrate to the new ESLint builder and ESLint config style",
       "factory": "./src/migrations/update-10-3-0/update-eslint-builder-and-config"
+    },
+    "add-json-ext-to-eslintrc": {
+      "version": "10.3.0-beta.2",
+      "description": "Add explicit .json file extension to .eslintrc files, not using an extension is deprecated",
+      "factory": "./src/migrations/update-10-3-0/add-json-ext-to-eslintrc"
     }
   },
   "packageJsonUpdates": {
diff --git a/packages/linter/src/builders/eslint/lint.impl.spec.ts b/packages/linter/src/builders/eslint/lint.impl.spec.ts
index 72e429b6b5..d3bd7a2ae4 100644
--- a/packages/linter/src/builders/eslint/lint.impl.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/linter/src/builders/eslint/lint.impl.spec.ts
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ function createValidRunBuilderOptions(
 ): Schema {
   return {
     lintFilePatterns: [],
-    eslintConfig: './.eslintrc',
+    eslintConfig: './.eslintrc.json',
     fix: true,
     cache: true,
     cacheLocation: 'cacheLocation1',
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
     await runBuilder(
       createValidRunBuilderOptions({
         lintFilePatterns: [],
-        eslintConfig: './.eslintrc',
+        eslintConfig: './.eslintrc.json',
         fix: true,
         cache: true,
         cacheLocation: 'cacheLocation1',
@@ -131,9 +131,9 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
         quiet: false,
       })
     );
-    expect(lint).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/root/.eslintrc', {
+    expect(lint).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/root/.eslintrc.json', {
       lintFilePatterns: [],
-      eslintConfig: './.eslintrc',
+      eslintConfig: './.eslintrc.json',
       fix: true,
       cache: true,
       cacheLocation: 'cacheLocation1',
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
     setupMocks();
     await runBuilder(
       createValidRunBuilderOptions({
-        eslintConfig: './.eslintrc',
+        eslintConfig: './.eslintrc.json',
         lintFilePatterns: ['includedFile1'],
         format: 'json',
       })
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
     expect(mockLoadFormatter).toHaveBeenCalledWith('json');
     await runBuilder(
       createValidRunBuilderOptions({
-        eslintConfig: './.eslintrc',
+        eslintConfig: './.eslintrc.json',
         lintFilePatterns: ['includedFile1'],
         format: 'html',
       })
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
     setupMocks();
     await runBuilder(
       createValidRunBuilderOptions({
-        eslintConfig: './.eslintrc',
+        eslintConfig: './.eslintrc.json',
         lintFilePatterns: ['includedFile1'],
         format: 'json',
         fix: false,
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
       setupMocks();
       await runBuilder(
         createValidRunBuilderOptions({
-          eslintConfig: './.eslintrc',
+          eslintConfig: './.eslintrc.json',
           lintFilePatterns: ['includedFile1'],
           format: 'json',
           silent: false,
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
       setupMocks();
       await runBuilder(
         createValidRunBuilderOptions({
-          eslintConfig: './.eslintrc',
+          eslintConfig: './.eslintrc.json',
           lintFilePatterns: ['includedFile1'],
           format: 'json',
           silent: false,
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
       setupMocks();
       await runBuilder(
         createValidRunBuilderOptions({
-          eslintConfig: './.eslintrc',
+          eslintConfig: './.eslintrc.json',
           lintFilePatterns: ['includedFile1'],
           format: 'json',
           silent: true,
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
     setupMocks();
     const output = await runBuilder(
       createValidRunBuilderOptions({
-        eslintConfig: './.eslintrc',
+        eslintConfig: './.eslintrc.json',
         lintFilePatterns: ['includedFile1'],
         format: 'json',
         silent: true,
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
     setupMocks();
     const output = await runBuilder(
       createValidRunBuilderOptions({
-        eslintConfig: './.eslintrc',
+        eslintConfig: './.eslintrc.json',
         lintFilePatterns: ['includedFile1'],
         format: 'json',
         silent: true,
@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
     setupMocks();
     const output = await runBuilder(
       createValidRunBuilderOptions({
-        eslintConfig: './.eslintrc',
+        eslintConfig: './.eslintrc.json',
         lintFilePatterns: ['includedFile1'],
         format: 'json',
         silent: true,
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
     const { createDirectory } = require('@nrwl/workspace');
     await runBuilder(
       createValidRunBuilderOptions({
-        eslintConfig: './.eslintrc',
+        eslintConfig: './.eslintrc.json',
         lintFilePatterns: ['includedFile1'],
         format: 'json',
         silent: true,
@@ -442,7 +442,7 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
     jest.spyOn(fs, 'writeFileSync').mockImplementation();
     await runBuilder(
       createValidRunBuilderOptions({
-        eslintConfig: './.eslintrc',
+        eslintConfig: './.eslintrc.json',
         lintFilePatterns: ['includedFile1'],
         format: 'json',
         silent: true,
diff --git a/packages/linter/src/builders/eslint/lint.impl.ts b/packages/linter/src/builders/eslint/lint.impl.ts
index 76277a2458..6a87f12b9e 100644
--- a/packages/linter/src/builders/eslint/lint.impl.ts
+++ b/packages/linter/src/builders/eslint/lint.impl.ts
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ async function run(
 
   /**
    * We want users to have the option of not specifying the config path, and let
-   * eslint automatically resolve the `.eslintrc` files in each folder.
+   * eslint automatically resolve the `.eslintrc.json` files in each folder.
    */
   const eslintConfigPath = options.eslintConfig
     ? path.resolve(systemRoot, options.eslintConfig)
diff --git a/packages/linter/src/builders/eslint/utility/eslint-utils.spec.ts b/packages/linter/src/builders/eslint/utility/eslint-utils.spec.ts
index abdd90d78c..8384b664e7 100644
--- a/packages/linter/src/builders/eslint/utility/eslint-utils.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/linter/src/builders/eslint/utility/eslint-utils.spec.ts
@@ -18,14 +18,14 @@ describe('eslint-utils', () => {
   });
 
   it('should create the ESLint instance with the proper parameters', async () => {
-    await lint('./.eslintrc', <any>{
+    await lint('./.eslintrc.json', <any>{
       fix: true,
       cache: true,
       cacheLocation: '/root/cache',
     }).catch(() => {});
 
     expect(ESLint).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
-      overrideConfigFile: './.eslintrc',
+      overrideConfigFile: './.eslintrc.json',
       fix: true,
       cache: true,
       cacheLocation: '/root/cache',
diff --git a/packages/linter/src/builders/lint/lint.impl.spec.ts b/packages/linter/src/builders/lint/lint.impl.spec.ts
index d83babfce7..5df9c67a86 100644
--- a/packages/linter/src/builders/lint/lint.impl.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/linter/src/builders/lint/lint.impl.spec.ts
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
     setupMocks();
     const result = runBuilder({
       linter: 'eslint',
-      config: './.eslintrc',
+      config: './.eslintrc.json',
       files: [],
     });
     await expect(result).rejects.toThrow(
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
     setupMocks();
     const result = runBuilder({
       linter: 'eslint',
-      config: './.eslintrc',
+      config: './.eslintrc.json',
       files: [],
     });
     await expect(result).resolves.not.toThrow();
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
     setupMocks();
     const result = runBuilder({
       linter: 'tslint',
-      config: './.eslintrc',
+      config: './.eslintrc.json',
       files: [],
     });
     await expect(result).rejects.toThrow(
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
       const { createProgram } = require('./utility/ts-utils');
       await runBuilder({
         linter: 'eslint',
-        config: './.eslintrc',
+        config: './.eslintrc.json',
         tsConfig: './tsconfig.json',
       });
       expect(createProgram).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
       expect(lint).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
       expect(lint).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
         '/root',
-        '/root/.eslintrc',
+        '/root/.eslintrc.json',
         expect.anything(),
         expect.any(Set),
         '/root/tsconfig.json-program',
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
       const { createProgram } = require('./utility/ts-utils');
       await runBuilder({
         linter: 'eslint',
-        config: './.eslintrc',
+        config: './.eslintrc.json',
         tsConfig: ['./tsconfig.json', './tsconfig2.json'],
       });
       expect(createProgram).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
       expect(lint).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(
         1,
         '/root',
-        '/root/.eslintrc',
+        '/root/.eslintrc.json',
         expect.anything(),
         expect.any(Set),
         '/root/tsconfig.json-program',
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
       expect(lint).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(
         2,
         '/root',
-        '/root/.eslintrc',
+        '/root/.eslintrc.json',
         expect.anything(),
         expect.any(Set),
         '/root/tsconfig2.json-program',
@@ -165,14 +165,14 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
       const { createProgram } = require('./utility/ts-utils');
       await runBuilder({
         linter: 'eslint',
-        config: './.eslintrc',
+        config: './.eslintrc.json',
         files: [],
       });
       expect(createProgram).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
       expect(lint).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
       expect(lint).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
         '/root',
-        '/root/.eslintrc',
+        '/root/.eslintrc.json',
         expect.anything(),
         expect.any(Set)
       );
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
     const { lint } = require('./utility/eslint-utils');
     await runBuilder({
       linter: 'eslint',
-      config: './.eslintrc',
+      config: './.eslintrc.json',
       files: ['includedFile1'],
       exclude: ['excludedFile1'],
       fix: true,
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
       expect.anything(),
       expect.anything(),
       {
-        config: './.eslintrc',
+        config: './.eslintrc.json',
         files: ['includedFile1'],
         exclude: ['excludedFile1'],
         fix: true,
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
     setupMocks();
     const result = runBuilder({
       linter: 'eslint',
-      config: './.eslintrc',
+      config: './.eslintrc.json',
       files: ['includedFile1'],
     });
     await expect(result).rejects.toThrow(
@@ -230,14 +230,14 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
     setupMocks();
     await runBuilder({
       linter: 'eslint',
-      config: './.eslintrc',
+      config: './.eslintrc.json',
       files: ['includedFile1'],
       format: 'json',
     });
     expect(mockGetFormatter).toHaveBeenCalledWith('json');
     await runBuilder({
       linter: 'eslint',
-      config: './.eslintrc',
+      config: './.eslintrc.json',
       files: ['includedFile1'],
       format: 'html',
     });
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
     setupMocks();
     await runBuilder({
       linter: 'eslint',
-      config: './.eslintrc',
+      config: './.eslintrc.json',
       files: ['includedFile1'],
       format: 'json',
       fix: false,
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
       setupMocks();
       await runBuilder({
         linter: 'eslint',
-        config: './.eslintrc',
+        config: './.eslintrc.json',
         files: ['includedFile1'],
         format: 'json',
         silent: false,
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
       setupMocks();
       const output = await runBuilder({
         linter: 'eslint',
-        config: './.eslintrc',
+        config: './.eslintrc.json',
         files: ['includedFile1'],
         format: 'json',
         silent: false,
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
       const { createDirectory } = require('@nrwl/workspace');
       await runBuilder({
         linter: 'eslint',
-        config: './.eslintrc',
+        config: './.eslintrc.json',
         files: ['includedFile1'],
         outputFile: 'a/b/c/outputFile1',
       });
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
       jest.spyOn(fs, 'writeFileSync').mockImplementation();
       await runBuilder({
         linter: 'eslint',
-        config: './.eslintrc',
+        config: './.eslintrc.json',
         files: ['includedFile1'],
       });
       expect(fs.writeFileSync).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
       setupMocks();
       const output = await runBuilder({
         linter: 'eslint',
-        config: './.eslintrc',
+        config: './.eslintrc.json',
         files: ['includedFile1'],
         format: 'json',
         silent: true,
@@ -434,7 +434,7 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
     setupMocks();
     const output = await runBuilder({
       linter: 'eslint',
-      config: './.eslintrc',
+      config: './.eslintrc.json',
       files: ['includedFile1'],
       format: 'json',
       silent: true,
@@ -459,7 +459,7 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
     setupMocks();
     const output = await runBuilder({
       linter: 'eslint',
-      config: './.eslintrc',
+      config: './.eslintrc.json',
       files: ['includedFile1'],
       format: 'json',
       silent: true,
@@ -485,7 +485,7 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
     setupMocks();
     const output = await runBuilder({
       linter: 'eslint',
-      config: './.eslintrc',
+      config: './.eslintrc.json',
       files: ['includedFile1'],
       format: 'json',
       silent: true,
@@ -511,7 +511,7 @@ describe('Linter Builder', () => {
     setupMocks();
     const output = await runBuilder({
       linter: 'eslint',
-      config: './.eslintrc',
+      config: './.eslintrc.json',
       files: ['includedFile1'],
       format: 'json',
       silent: true,
diff --git a/packages/linter/src/builders/lint/lint.impl.ts b/packages/linter/src/builders/lint/lint.impl.ts
index b46f8fd671..f180826764 100644
--- a/packages/linter/src/builders/lint/lint.impl.ts
+++ b/packages/linter/src/builders/lint/lint.impl.ts
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ async function run(options: Schema, context: BuilderContext): Promise<any> {
   }
 
   // We want users to have the option of not specifying the config path, and let
-  // eslint automatically resolve the `.eslintrc` files in each folder.
+  // eslint automatically resolve the `.eslintrc.json` files in each folder.
   const eslintConfigPath = options.config
     ? path.resolve(systemRoot, options.config)
     : undefined;
diff --git a/packages/linter/src/builders/lint/utility/eslint-utils.spec.ts b/packages/linter/src/builders/lint/utility/eslint-utils.spec.ts
index d36998d232..8fc6231814 100644
--- a/packages/linter/src/builders/lint/utility/eslint-utils.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/linter/src/builders/lint/utility/eslint-utils.spec.ts
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ describe('eslint-util', () => {
     const lintedFiles = new Set();
     await lint(
       '/root',
-      './.eslintrc',
+      './.eslintrc.json',
       <any>{ foo: 'bar' },
       lintedFiles,
       'ts-program'
@@ -46,13 +46,13 @@ describe('eslint-util', () => {
     const lintedFiles = new Set();
     await lint(
       '/root',
-      './.eslintrc',
+      './.eslintrc.json',
       <any>{ fix: true, cache: true, cacheLocation: '/root/cache' },
       lintedFiles,
       'ts-program'
     ).catch(() => {});
     expect(CLIEngine).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
-      configFile: './.eslintrc',
+      configFile: './.eslintrc.json',
       fix: true,
       cache: true,
       cacheLocation: '/root/cache',
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ describe('eslint-util', () => {
     lintedFiles.add('file4');
     const reports = await lint(
       '/root',
-      './.eslintrc',
+      './.eslintrc.json',
       <any>{ foo: 'bar' },
       lintedFiles
     );
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ describe('eslint-util', () => {
     const lintedFiles = new Set();
     const lintPromise = lint(
       '/root',
-      './.eslintrc',
+      './.eslintrc.json',
       <any>{ tsConfig: 'my-ts-project' },
       lintedFiles,
       program,
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ describe('eslint-util', () => {
     const lintedFiles = new Set();
     const lintPromise = lint(
       '/root',
-      './.eslintrc',
+      './.eslintrc.json',
       <any>{ tsConfig: 'my-ts-project' },
       lintedFiles,
       program,
diff --git a/packages/linter/src/migrations/update-10-3-0/add-json-ext-to-eslintrc.spec.ts b/packages/linter/src/migrations/update-10-3-0/add-json-ext-to-eslintrc.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3676ac29c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/linter/src/migrations/update-10-3-0/add-json-ext-to-eslintrc.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+import { Tree } from '@angular-devkit/schematics';
+import {
+  readJsonInTree,
+  readWorkspace,
+  updateJsonInTree,
+  updateWorkspace,
+} from '@nrwl/workspace';
+import { callRule, createEmptyWorkspace } from '@nrwl/workspace/testing';
+import { runMigration } from '../../utils/testing';
+
+describe('Add explicit .json file extension to .eslintrc files', () => {
+  let tree: Tree;
+
+  beforeEach(async () => {
+    tree = Tree.empty();
+    tree = createEmptyWorkspace(tree);
+    tree = await callRule(
+      updateJsonInTree('.eslintrc', () => ({})),
+      tree
+    );
+    tree = await callRule(
+      updateWorkspace((workspace) => {
+        // Old linter builder with ESLint, with explicit config file reference
+        // that needs to be updated
+        workspace.projects.add({
+          name: 'testProject',
+          root: 'apps/testProject',
+          sourceRoot: 'apps/testProject/src',
+          projectType: 'application',
+          targets: {
+            lint: {
+              builder: '@nrwl/linter:lint',
+              options: {
+                linter: 'eslint',
+                config: '.eslintrc',
+                tsConfig: [
+                  'apps/testProject/tsconfig.app.json',
+                  'apps/testProject/tsconfig.spec.json',
+                ],
+                exclude: ['**/node_modules/**', '!apps/testProject/**/*'],
+              },
+            },
+          },
+        });
+
+        // New eslint builder, with explicit config file reference
+        // that needs to be updated
+        workspace.projects.add({
+          name: 'testProject2',
+          root: 'apps/testProject2',
+          sourceRoot: 'apps/testProject2/src',
+          projectType: 'application',
+          targets: {
+            lint: {
+              builder: '@nrwl/linter:eslint',
+              options: {
+                eslintConfig: '.eslintrc',
+                lintFilePatterns: ['apps/testProject2/**/*.ts'],
+              },
+            },
+          },
+        });
+      }),
+      tree
+    );
+    tree = await callRule(
+      updateJsonInTree('apps/testProject/.eslintrc', () => ({})),
+      tree
+    );
+    tree = await callRule(
+      updateJsonInTree('apps/testProject2/.eslintrc', () => ({})),
+      tree
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('should rename .eslintrc files to .eslintrc.json and update any workspace.json references', async () => {
+    const result = await runMigration('add-json-ext-to-eslintrc', {}, tree);
+
+    const workspace = readWorkspace(tree);
+
+    // ---------------------------------------- Root
+    expect(() =>
+      readJsonInTree(result, '.eslintrc')
+    ).toThrowErrorMatchingInlineSnapshot(`"Cannot find .eslintrc"`);
+    expect(readJsonInTree(result, '.eslintrc.json')).toMatchInlineSnapshot(
+      `Object {}`
+    );
+
+    // ---------------------------------------- testProject
+    expect(() =>
+      readJsonInTree(result, 'apps/testProject/.eslintrc')
+    ).toThrowErrorMatchingInlineSnapshot(
+      `"Cannot find apps/testProject/.eslintrc"`
+    );
+    expect(
+      readJsonInTree(result, 'apps/testProject/.eslintrc.json')
+    ).toMatchInlineSnapshot(`Object {}`);
+    expect(
+      workspace.projects['testProject'].architect.lint.options.config
+    ).toEqual('.eslintrc.json');
+
+    // ---------------------------------------- testProject2
+    expect(() =>
+      readJsonInTree(result, 'apps/testProject2/.eslintrc')
+    ).toThrowErrorMatchingInlineSnapshot(
+      `"Cannot find apps/testProject2/.eslintrc"`
+    );
+    expect(
+      readJsonInTree(result, 'apps/testProject2/.eslintrc.json')
+    ).toMatchInlineSnapshot(`Object {}`);
+    expect(
+      workspace.projects['testProject2'].architect.lint.options.eslintConfig
+    ).toEqual('.eslintrc.json');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/linter/src/migrations/update-10-3-0/add-json-ext-to-eslintrc.ts b/packages/linter/src/migrations/update-10-3-0/add-json-ext-to-eslintrc.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2b632e7feb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/linter/src/migrations/update-10-3-0/add-json-ext-to-eslintrc.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+import { basename } from '@angular-devkit/core';
+import { chain, Tree } from '@angular-devkit/schematics';
+import {
+  formatFiles,
+  readJsonInTree,
+  serializeJson,
+  updateWorkspace,
+  visitNotIgnoredFiles,
+} from '@nrwl/workspace';
+
+function updateESLintConfigReferencesInWorkspace() {
+  return updateWorkspace((workspace) => {
+    workspace.projects.forEach((project) => {
+      const lintTarget = project.targets.get('lint');
+      if (
+        lintTarget?.builder !== '@nrwl/linter:eslint' &&
+        (lintTarget?.builder !== '@nrwl/linter:lint' ||
+          lintTarget?.options?.linter === 'tslint')
+      ) {
+        return;
+      }
+
+      if (lintTarget.builder === '@nrwl/linter:eslint') {
+        if (!lintTarget.options.eslintConfig) {
+          return;
+        }
+        lintTarget.options.eslintConfig = `${lintTarget.options.eslintConfig}.json`;
+        return;
+      }
+
+      if (lintTarget.builder === '@nrwl/linter:lint') {
+        if (!lintTarget.options.config) {
+          return;
+        }
+        lintTarget.options.config = `${lintTarget.options.config}.json`;
+        return;
+      }
+    });
+  });
+}
+
+function renameESLintConfigFiles() {
+  return visitNotIgnoredFiles((file, host, context) => {
+    if (basename(file) !== '.eslintrc') {
+      return;
+    }
+    // Using .eslintrc without an explicit file extension is deprecated
+    const newFilePath = `${file}.json`;
+    context.logger.info(`Renaming ${file} to ${newFilePath}`);
+    try {
+      return host.rename(file, newFilePath);
+    } catch (e) {
+      context.logger.error(e);
+    }
+  });
+}
+
+export default function () {
+  return chain([
+    renameESLintConfigFiles,
+    updateESLintConfigReferencesInWorkspace,
+    formatFiles(),
+  ]);
+}
diff --git a/packages/next/src/schematics/application/application.spec.ts b/packages/next/src/schematics/application/application.spec.ts
index c696507c64..9da5197a0d 100644
--- a/packages/next/src/schematics/application/application.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/next/src/schematics/application/application.spec.ts
@@ -197,14 +197,14 @@ describe('app', () => {
   });
 
   describe('--linter=eslint', () => {
-    it('should add .eslintrc and dependencies', async () => {
+    it('should add .eslintrc.json and dependencies', async () => {
       const tree = await runSchematic(
         'app',
         { name: 'myApp', linter: 'eslint' },
         appTree
       );
 
-      const eslintJson = readJsonInTree(tree, '/apps/my-app/.eslintrc');
+      const eslintJson = readJsonInTree(tree, '/apps/my-app/.eslintrc.json');
       const packageJson = readJsonInTree(tree, '/package.json');
 
       expect(eslintJson.plugins).toEqual(
diff --git a/packages/node/src/schematics/application/application.spec.ts b/packages/node/src/schematics/application/application.spec.ts
index 1eb5cababd..acff7b4711 100644
--- a/packages/node/src/schematics/application/application.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/node/src/schematics/application/application.spec.ts
@@ -112,9 +112,11 @@ describe('app', () => {
       expect(tsconfigApp.extends).toEqual('./tsconfig.json');
 
       const eslintrc = JSON.parse(
-        stripJsonComments(getFileContent(tree, 'apps/my-node-app/.eslintrc'))
+        stripJsonComments(
+          getFileContent(tree, 'apps/my-node-app/.eslintrc.json')
+        )
       );
-      expect(eslintrc.extends).toEqual('../../.eslintrc');
+      expect(eslintrc.extends).toEqual('../../.eslintrc.json');
     });
   });
 
@@ -192,9 +194,9 @@ describe('app', () => {
           expectedValue: ['node'],
         },
         {
-          path: 'apps/my-dir/my-node-app/.eslintrc',
+          path: 'apps/my-dir/my-node-app/.eslintrc.json',
           lookupFn: (json) => json.extends,
-          expectedValue: '../../../.eslintrc',
+          expectedValue: '../../../.eslintrc.json',
         },
       ].forEach(hasJsonValue);
     });
diff --git a/packages/react/src/schematics/application/application.spec.ts b/packages/react/src/schematics/application/application.spec.ts
index 7804b2286b..eafef125ca 100644
--- a/packages/react/src/schematics/application/application.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/react/src/schematics/application/application.spec.ts
@@ -71,9 +71,9 @@ describe('app', () => {
       expect(tsconfigApp.extends).toEqual('./tsconfig.json');
 
       const eslintJson = JSON.parse(
-        stripJsonComments(tree.readContent('apps/my-app/.eslintrc'))
+        stripJsonComments(tree.readContent('apps/my-app/.eslintrc.json'))
       );
-      expect(eslintJson.extends).toEqual(['../../.eslintrc']);
+      expect(eslintJson.extends).toEqual(['../../.eslintrc.json']);
 
       expect(tree.exists('apps/my-app-e2e/cypress.json')).toBeTruthy();
       const tsconfigE2E = JSON.parse(
@@ -155,9 +155,9 @@ describe('app', () => {
           expectedValue: '../../../dist/out-tsc',
         },
         {
-          path: 'apps/my-dir/my-app/.eslintrc',
+          path: 'apps/my-dir/my-app/.eslintrc.json',
           lookupFn: (json) => json.extends,
-          expectedValue: ['../../../.eslintrc'],
+          expectedValue: ['../../../.eslintrc.json'],
         },
       ].forEach(hasJsonValue);
     });
@@ -358,14 +358,14 @@ describe('app', () => {
     expect(appContent).not.toMatch(/extends Component/);
   });
 
-  it('should add .eslintrc and dependencies', async () => {
+  it('should add .eslintrc.json and dependencies', async () => {
     const tree = await runSchematic(
       'app',
       { name: 'myApp', linter: 'eslint' },
       appTree
     );
 
-    const eslintJson = readJsonInTree(tree, '/apps/my-app/.eslintrc');
+    const eslintJson = readJsonInTree(tree, '/apps/my-app/.eslintrc.json');
     const packageJson = readJsonInTree(tree, '/package.json');
 
     expect(eslintJson.plugins).toEqual(
diff --git a/packages/storybook/src/schematics/configuration/configuration.ts b/packages/storybook/src/schematics/configuration/configuration.ts
index c61e95d28d..1b6aebae2a 100644
--- a/packages/storybook/src/schematics/configuration/configuration.ts
+++ b/packages/storybook/src/schematics/configuration/configuration.ts
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ function configureTsSolutionConfig(schema: StorybookConfigureSchema): Rule {
  * which includes *.stories files.
  *
  * For TSLint this is done via the builder config, for ESLint this is
- * done within the .eslintrc file.
+ * done within the .eslintrc.json file.
  */
 function updateLintConfig(schema: StorybookConfigureSchema): Rule {
   const { name: projectName } = schema;
@@ -233,13 +233,16 @@ function updateLintConfig(schema: StorybookConfigureSchema): Rule {
         return;
       }
 
-      return updateJsonInTree(`${projectConfig.root}/.eslintrc`, (json) => {
-        if (Array.isArray(json.parserOptions?.project)) {
-          json.parserOptions.project.push(
-            `${projectConfig.root}/.storybook/tsconfig.json`
-          );
+      return updateJsonInTree(
+        `${projectConfig.root}/.eslintrc.json`,
+        (json) => {
+          if (Array.isArray(json.parserOptions?.project)) {
+            json.parserOptions.project.push(
+              `${projectConfig.root}/.storybook/tsconfig.json`
+            );
+          }
         }
-      });
+      );
     },
   ]);
 }
diff --git a/packages/web/src/schematics/application/application.spec.ts b/packages/web/src/schematics/application/application.spec.ts
index 535f6e1444..a61490e5b9 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/schematics/application/application.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/web/src/schematics/application/application.spec.ts
@@ -70,9 +70,9 @@ describe('app', () => {
       expect(tsconfigApp.extends).toEqual('./tsconfig.json');
 
       const linter = JSON.parse(
-        stripJsonComments(tree.readContent('apps/my-app/.eslintrc'))
+        stripJsonComments(tree.readContent('apps/my-app/.eslintrc.json'))
       );
-      expect(linter.extends).toEqual('../../.eslintrc');
+      expect(linter.extends).toEqual('../../.eslintrc.json');
 
       expect(tree.exists('apps/my-app-e2e/cypress.json')).toBeTruthy();
       const tsconfigE2E = JSON.parse(
@@ -154,9 +154,9 @@ describe('app', () => {
           expectedValue: '../../../dist/out-tsc',
         },
         {
-          path: 'apps/my-dir/my-app/.eslintrc',
+          path: 'apps/my-dir/my-app/.eslintrc.json',
           lookupFn: (json) => json.extends,
-          expectedValue: '../../../.eslintrc',
+          expectedValue: '../../../.eslintrc.json',
         },
       ].forEach(hasJsonValue);
     });
diff --git a/packages/workspace/index.ts b/packages/workspace/index.ts
index a959c6f540..889dbab7d5 100644
--- a/packages/workspace/index.ts
+++ b/packages/workspace/index.ts
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ export { formatFiles } from './src/utils/rules/format-files';
 export { deleteFile } from './src/utils/rules/deleteFile';
 export * from './src/utils/rules/ng-add';
 export { updateKarmaConf } from './src/utils/rules/update-karma-conf';
+export { visitNotIgnoredFiles } from './src/utils/rules/visit-not-ignored-files';
 export { setDefaultCollection } from './src/utils/rules/workspace';
 import * as strings from './src/utils/strings';
 export { checkAndCleanWithSemver } from './src/utils/version-utils';
diff --git a/packages/workspace/src/schematics/library/library.spec.ts b/packages/workspace/src/schematics/library/library.spec.ts
index c201f6ee98..78aebeda77 100644
--- a/packages/workspace/src/schematics/library/library.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/workspace/src/schematics/library/library.spec.ts
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ describe('lib', () => {
         tree.exists('libs/my-dir/my-lib/src/lib/my-dir-my-lib.ts')
       ).toBeTruthy();
       expect(tree.exists('libs/my-dir/my-lib/src/index.ts')).toBeTruthy();
-      expect(tree.exists(`libs/my-dir/my-lib/.eslintrc`)).toBeTruthy();
+      expect(tree.exists(`libs/my-dir/my-lib/.eslintrc.json`)).toBeTruthy();
     });
 
     it('should update workspace.json', async () => {
@@ -242,15 +242,15 @@ describe('lib', () => {
       ]);
     });
 
-    it('should create a local .eslintrc', async () => {
+    it('should create a local .eslintrc.json', async () => {
       const tree = await runSchematic(
         'lib',
         { name: 'myLib', directory: 'myDir' },
         appTree
       );
 
-      const lint = readJsonInTree(tree, 'libs/my-dir/my-lib/.eslintrc');
-      expect(lint.extends).toEqual('../../../.eslintrc');
+      const lint = readJsonInTree(tree, 'libs/my-dir/my-lib/.eslintrc.json');
+      expect(lint.extends).toEqual('../../../.eslintrc.json');
     });
   });
 
diff --git a/packages/workspace/src/schematics/preset/preset.spec.ts b/packages/workspace/src/schematics/preset/preset.spec.ts
index 26a43ca97d..2e01998d21 100644
--- a/packages/workspace/src/schematics/preset/preset.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/workspace/src/schematics/preset/preset.spec.ts
@@ -98,9 +98,9 @@ describe('preset', () => {
       expect(
         tree.exists('/libs/api-interfaces/src/lib/api-interfaces.ts')
       ).toBe(true);
-      expect(tree.exists('/apps/proj/.eslintrc')).toBe(true);
-      expect(tree.exists('/apps/api/.eslintrc')).toBe(true);
-      expect(tree.exists('/libs/api-interfaces/.eslintrc')).toBe(true);
+      expect(tree.exists('/apps/proj/.eslintrc.json')).toBe(true);
+      expect(tree.exists('/apps/api/.eslintrc.json')).toBe(true);
+      expect(tree.exists('/libs/api-interfaces/.eslintrc.json')).toBe(true);
     });
 
     it('should work with unnormalized names', async () => {
diff --git a/packages/workspace/src/utils/lint.ts b/packages/workspace/src/utils/lint.ts
index 3b1b7638bc..6fc3d880ec 100644
--- a/packages/workspace/src/utils/lint.ts
+++ b/packages/workspace/src/utils/lint.ts
@@ -92,9 +92,9 @@ export function addLintFiles(
     }
 
     if (linter === 'eslint') {
-      if (!host.exists('/.eslintrc')) {
+      if (!host.exists('/.eslintrc.json')) {
         chainedCommands.push((host: Tree) => {
-          host.create('/.eslintrc', globalESLint);
+          host.create('/.eslintrc.json', globalESLint);
 
           return addDepsToPackageJson(
             {
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ export function addLintFiles(
       if (!options.onlyGlobal) {
         chainedCommands.push((host: Tree) => {
           let configJson;
-          const rootConfig = `${offsetFromRoot(projectRoot)}.eslintrc`;
+          const rootConfig = `${offsetFromRoot(projectRoot)}.eslintrc.json`;
 
           // Include all project files to be linted (since they are turned off in the root eslintrc file).
           const ignorePatterns = ['!**/*'];
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ export function addLintFiles(
           }
 
           host.create(
-            join(projectRoot as any, `.eslintrc`),
+            join(projectRoot as any, `.eslintrc.json`),
             JSON.stringify(configJson)
           );
         });
@@ -246,11 +246,11 @@ const globalESLint = `
   "ignorePatterns": ["**/*"],
   "plugins": ["@typescript-eslint", "@nrwl/nx"],
   "extends": [
-    'eslint:recommended',
-    'plugin:@typescript-eslint/eslint-recommended',
-    'plugin:@typescript-eslint/recommended',
-    'prettier',
-    'prettier/@typescript-eslint'
+    "eslint:recommended",
+    "plugin:@typescript-eslint/eslint-recommended",
+    "plugin:@typescript-eslint/recommended",
+    "prettier",
+    "prettier/@typescript-eslint"
   ],
   "rules": {
     "@typescript-eslint/explicit-member-accessibility": "off",