diff --git a/src/components/modebar/buttons.js b/src/components/modebar/buttons.js
index 67bc00abf55..a1bef00d5b3 100644
--- a/src/components/modebar/buttons.js
+++ b/src/components/modebar/buttons.js
@@ -548,9 +548,22 @@ function handleGeo(gd, ev) {
 
         if(attr === 'zoom') {
             var scale = geoLayout.projection.scale;
+            var minscale = geoLayout.projection.minscale;
+            var maxscale = geoLayout.projection.maxscale;
+
+            if(maxscale === -1) maxscale = Infinity;
             var newScale = (val === 'in') ? 2 * scale : 0.5 * scale;
 
-            Registry.call('_guiRelayout', gd, id + '.projection.scale', newScale);
+            // make sure the scale is within the min/max bounds
+            if(newScale > maxscale) {
+                newScale = maxscale;
+            } else if(newScale < minscale) {
+                newScale = minscale;
+            }
+
+            if(newScale !== scale) {
+                Registry.call('_guiRelayout', gd, id + '.projection.scale', newScale);
+            }
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/plots/geo/geo.js b/src/plots/geo/geo.js
index db7a2d83564..594cb073335 100644
--- a/src/plots/geo/geo.js
+++ b/src/plots/geo/geo.js
@@ -709,6 +709,14 @@ function getProjection(geoLayout) {
 
     projection.precision(constants.precision);
 
+    // https://github.com/d3/d3-zoom/blob/master/README.md#zoom_scaleExtent
+    projection.scaleExtent = function() {
+        var minscale = projLayout.minscale;
+        var maxscale = projLayout.maxscale;
+        if(maxscale === -1) maxscale = Infinity;
+        return [100 * minscale, 100 * maxscale];
+    };
+
     if(geoLayout._isSatellite) {
         projection.tilt(projLayout.tilt).distance(projLayout.distance);
     }
diff --git a/src/plots/geo/layout_attributes.js b/src/plots/geo/layout_attributes.js
index 97ef64786e6..f320976dbe8 100644
--- a/src/plots/geo/layout_attributes.js
+++ b/src/plots/geo/layout_attributes.js
@@ -177,6 +177,26 @@ var attrs = module.exports = overrideAll({
                 'that fits the map\'s lon and lat ranges. '
             ].join(' ')
         },
+        minscale: {
+            valType: 'number',
+            min: 0,
+            dflt: 0,
+            description: [
+                'Minimal zoom level of the map view.',
+                'A minscale of *0.5* (50%) corresponds to a zoom level',
+                'where the map has half the size of base zoom level.'
+            ].join(' ')
+        },
+        maxscale: {
+            valType: 'number',
+            min: 0,
+            dflt: -1,
+            description: [
+                'Maximal zoom level of the map view.',
+                'A maxscale of *2* (200%) corresponds to a zoom level',
+                'where the map is twice as big as the base layer.'
+            ].join(' ')
+        },
     },
     center: {
         lon: {
diff --git a/src/plots/geo/layout_defaults.js b/src/plots/geo/layout_defaults.js
index 54b4d49bda4..411a42cfdb1 100644
--- a/src/plots/geo/layout_defaults.js
+++ b/src/plots/geo/layout_defaults.js
@@ -161,6 +161,8 @@ function handleGeoDefaults(geoLayoutIn, geoLayoutOut, coerce, opts) {
     }
 
     coerce('projection.scale');
+    coerce('projection.minscale');
+    coerce('projection.maxscale');
 
     show = coerce('showland', !visible ? false : undefined);
     if(show) coerce('landcolor');
@@ -205,6 +207,8 @@ function handleGeoDefaults(geoLayoutIn, geoLayoutOut, coerce, opts) {
     // clear attributes that will get auto-filled later
     if(fitBounds) {
         delete geoLayoutOut.projection.scale;
+        delete geoLayoutOut.projection.minscale;
+        delete geoLayoutOut.projection.maxscale;
 
         if(isScoped) {
             delete geoLayoutOut.center.lon;
diff --git a/src/plots/geo/zoom.js b/src/plots/geo/zoom.js
index 2d79d69f581..824ba39a0ef 100644
--- a/src/plots/geo/zoom.js
+++ b/src/plots/geo/zoom.js
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ module.exports = createGeoZoom;
 function initZoom(geo, projection) {
     return d3.behavior.zoom()
         .translate(projection.translate())
+        .scaleExtent(projection.scaleExtent())
         .scale(projection.scale());
 }
 
diff --git a/test/plot-schema.json b/test/plot-schema.json
index fd2b1659e37..eb189f22bbb 100644
--- a/test/plot-schema.json
+++ b/test/plot-schema.json
@@ -2585,6 +2585,20 @@
       "valType": "number"
      },
      "editType": "plot",
+     "maxscale": {
+      "description": "Maximal zoom level of the map view. A maxscale of *2* (200%) corresponds to a zoom level where the map is twice as big as the base layer.",
+      "dflt": -1,
+      "editType": "plot",
+      "min": 0,
+      "valType": "number"
+     },
+     "minscale": {
+      "description": "Minimal zoom level of the map view. A minscale of *0.5* (50%) corresponds to a zoom level where the map has half the size of base zoom level.",
+      "dflt": 0,
+      "editType": "plot",
+      "min": 0,
+      "valType": "number"
+     },
      "parallels": {
       "description": "For conic projection types only. Sets the parallels (tangent, secant) where the cone intersects the sphere.",
       "editType": "plot",