diff --git a/litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/common_utils.py b/litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/common_utils.py
index 8f7dd4f8dfa..24a41a2361b 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/common_utils.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/common_utils.py
@@ -216,7 +216,14 @@ def _update_metadata_field(updated_kv: dict, field_name: str) -> None:
         field_name: Name of the metadata field being updated
     """
     if field_name in LiteLLM_ManagementEndpoint_MetadataFields_Premium:
-        _premium_user_check()
+        value = updated_kv.get(field_name)
+        # Skip the premium check for empty collections ([] or {}).
+        # The UI sends these as defaults even when the user hasn't configured
+        # any enterprise features (see issue #20304).  However, we still
+        # proceed with the update so that users can intentionally clear a
+        # previously-set field by sending an empty list/dict.
+        if value is not None and value != [] and value != {}:
+            _premium_user_check()
 
     if field_name in updated_kv and updated_kv[field_name] is not None:
         # remove field from updated_kv
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/common_utils/test_http_parsing_utils.py b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/common_utils/test_http_parsing_utils.py
index 324a58acfa9..af366b082a0 100644
--- a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/common_utils/test_http_parsing_utils.py
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/common_utils/test_http_parsing_utils.py
@@ -697,3 +697,67 @@ def test_populate_request_with_path_params_does_not_overwrite_existing_values():
     assert result["organization_id"] == "org-existing"  # Should keep original, not "org-query-param"
     # Verify other data is preserved
     assert result["messages"] == [{"role": "user", "content": "Hello"}]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_request_body_with_html_script_tags():
+    """
+    Test that JSON request bodies containing HTML tags like <script> are
+    parsed correctly without being blocked or modified.
+
+    Regression test for GitHub issue #20441:
+    https://github.com/BerriAI/litellm/issues/20441
+
+    LLM message content frequently contains HTML/code snippets.
+    The HTTP parsing layer must not interfere with such content.
+    """
+    test_messages = [
+        {
+            "role": "user",
+            "content": "<script>alert('hello')</script>",
+        },
+        {
+            "role": "user",
+            "content": "<script> test </script>",
+        },
+        {
+            "role": "user",
+            "content": "Can you explain what <script> tags do in HTML?",
+        },
+        {
+            "role": "user",
+            "content": "Here is code: <div><script src='app.js'></script></div>",
+        },
+        {
+            "role": "user",
+            "content": "<img onerror='alert(1)' src='x'>",
+        },
+        {
+            "role": "user",
+            "content": "<iframe src='https://example.com'></iframe>",
+        },
+    ]
+
+    for msg in test_messages:
+        test_payload = {
+            "model": "gpt-4o",
+            "messages": [
+                {"role": "user", "content": "hi"},
+                {"role": "assistant", "content": "Hello! How can I help?"},
+                msg,
+            ],
+        }
+
+        mock_request = MagicMock()
+        mock_request.body = AsyncMock(return_value=orjson.dumps(test_payload))
+        mock_request.headers = {"content-type": "application/json"}
+        mock_request.scope = {}
+
+        result = await _read_request_body(mock_request)
+
+        assert result["model"] == "gpt-4o"
+        assert len(result["messages"]) == 3
+        assert result["messages"][2]["content"] == msg["content"], (
+            f"Message content with HTML was modified during parsing: "
+            f"expected={msg['content']!r}, got={result['messages'][2]['content']!r}"
+        )
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/guardrails/guardrail_hooks/content_filter/test_content_filter.py b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/guardrails/guardrail_hooks/content_filter/test_content_filter.py
index be8c84a554f..2cb0244f352 100644
--- a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/guardrails/guardrail_hooks/content_filter/test_content_filter.py
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/guardrails/guardrail_hooks/content_filter/test_content_filter.py
@@ -920,3 +920,148 @@ class TestContentFilterGuardrail:
                     assert (
                         "matched_text" not in detection
                     ), "Sensitive content should not be logged"
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_html_tags_in_messages_not_blocked(self):
+        """
+        Test that HTML tags like <script> in LLM message content are NOT blocked
+        by the content filter guardrail.
+
+        Regression test for GitHub issue #20441:
+        https://github.com/BerriAI/litellm/issues/20441
+
+        LLM message content is not rendered as HTML, so HTML tags should be
+        treated as plain text and should pass through without being blocked.
+        """
+        # Set up a guardrail with all prebuilt patterns enabled as BLOCK
+        patterns = [
+            ContentFilterPattern(
+                pattern_type="prebuilt",
+                pattern_name="us_ssn",
+                action=ContentFilterAction.BLOCK,
+            ),
+            ContentFilterPattern(
+                pattern_type="prebuilt",
+                pattern_name="email",
+                action=ContentFilterAction.BLOCK,
+            ),
+            ContentFilterPattern(
+                pattern_type="prebuilt",
+                pattern_name="credit_card",
+                action=ContentFilterAction.BLOCK,
+            ),
+        ]
+
+        guardrail = ContentFilterGuardrail(
+            guardrail_name="test-html-tags",
+            patterns=patterns,
+        )
+
+        # Messages containing <script> and other HTML tags should NOT be blocked
+        html_messages = [
+            "<script>alert('hello')</script>",
+            "<script> test </script>",
+            "Can you explain what <script> tags do in HTML?",
+            "Here is some code: <div><script src='app.js'></script></div>",
+            "<img onerror='alert(1)' src='x'>",
+            "<iframe src='https://example.com'></iframe>",
+            "The <style> and <script> elements are important in HTML",
+            "<a href='javascript:void(0)'>click me</a>",
+        ]
+
+        for message in html_messages:
+            # Should NOT raise HTTPException
+            result = await guardrail.apply_guardrail(
+                inputs={"texts": [message]},
+                request_data={},
+                input_type="request",
+            )
+            processed_texts = result.get("texts", [])
+            assert len(processed_texts) == 1
+            # Content should pass through unchanged (no HTML tags are patterns)
+            assert processed_texts[0] == message, (
+                f"Message containing HTML was unexpectedly modified: "
+                f"input={message!r}, output={processed_texts[0]!r}"
+            )
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_script_tag_not_blocked_with_blocked_words(self):
+        """
+        Test that <script> tags are not accidentally caught by blocked words
+        unless explicitly configured.
+
+        Regression test for GitHub issue #20441.
+        """
+        blocked_words = [
+            BlockedWord(
+                keyword="confidential",
+                action=ContentFilterAction.BLOCK,
+            ),
+            BlockedWord(
+                keyword="secret_project",
+                action=ContentFilterAction.BLOCK,
+            ),
+        ]
+
+        guardrail = ContentFilterGuardrail(
+            guardrail_name="test-script-not-blocked",
+            blocked_words=blocked_words,
+        )
+
+        # <script> should not be caught by unrelated blocked words
+        script_messages = [
+            "<script>alert('test')</script>",
+            "How do I use <script> tags in HTML?",
+            "<script src='app.js'></script>",
+        ]
+
+        for message in script_messages:
+            result = await guardrail.apply_guardrail(
+                inputs={"texts": [message]},
+                request_data={},
+                input_type="request",
+            )
+            processed_texts = result.get("texts", [])
+            assert len(processed_texts) == 1
+            assert processed_texts[0] == message
+
+    def test_no_builtin_pattern_matches_script_tag(self):
+        """
+        Test that NONE of the prebuilt patterns in patterns.json match
+        the string '<script>' or common HTML tags.
+
+        This is a safeguard to ensure that future pattern additions
+        do not accidentally block legitimate LLM content containing
+        HTML/code snippets.
+
+        Regression test for GitHub issue #20441.
+        """
+        from litellm.proxy.guardrails.guardrail_hooks.litellm_content_filter.patterns import (
+            PREBUILT_PATTERNS,
+            get_compiled_pattern,
+        )
+
+        html_test_strings = [
+            "<script>alert('xss')</script>",
+            "<script> test </script>",
+            "<script src='app.js'></script>",
+            "<img onerror='alert(1)' src='x'>",
+            "<iframe src='https://example.com'></iframe>",
+            "<style>body { color: red; }</style>",
+            "<div onclick='alert(1)'>click</div>",
+        ]
+
+        for pattern_name in PREBUILT_PATTERNS:
+            compiled = get_compiled_pattern(pattern_name)
+            for test_string in html_test_strings:
+                match = compiled.search(test_string)
+                if match:
+                    # Some patterns may legitimately match substrings
+                    # (e.g., URL pattern matching src='https://...')
+                    # but they should not match the script/HTML tag itself
+                    matched_text = match.group()
+                    assert "<script" not in matched_text.lower(), (
+                        f"Pattern '{pattern_name}' matched '<script>' in "
+                        f"test string: {test_string!r}. "
+                        f"LLM message content should not be blocked for HTML tags."
+                    )
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/test_common_utils.py b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/test_common_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b372476c3d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/test_common_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,162 @@
+"""
+Tests for litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/common_utils.py
+
+Covers the fix for GitHub issue #20304:
+Empty guardrails/policies arrays sent by the UI should NOT trigger the
+enterprise (premium) license check, but should still be applied so that
+users can intentionally clear previously-set fields.
+"""
+
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+from litellm.proxy.management_endpoints.common_utils import (
+    _update_metadata_fields,
+)
+
+
+class TestUpdateMetadataFieldsEmptyCollections:
+    """
+    Regression tests for issue #20304.
+
+    The UI sends empty arrays (`[]`) for enterprise-only fields like
+    guardrails, policies, and logging even when the user hasn't configured
+    these features.  The backend must not treat empty collections as an
+    intent to use the feature, and therefore must not trigger the premium
+    license check.
+
+    However, empty collections must still be written into metadata so that
+    users can intentionally clear a previously-set field (e.g. removing all
+    guardrails by sending `guardrails: []`).
+    """
+
+    @patch("litellm.proxy.management_endpoints.common_utils._premium_user_check")
+    def test_empty_list_does_not_trigger_premium_check(self, mock_premium_check):
+        """Empty lists for premium fields must not trigger the premium check."""
+        updated_kv = {
+            "team_id": "test-team",
+            "guardrails": [],
+            "policies": [],
+            "logging": [],
+        }
+        _update_metadata_fields(updated_kv=updated_kv)
+        mock_premium_check.assert_not_called()
+
+    @patch("litellm.proxy.management_endpoints.common_utils._premium_user_check")
+    def test_empty_list_still_updates_metadata(self, mock_premium_check):
+        """
+        Empty lists must still be moved into metadata so users can clear
+        previously-set fields (e.g. remove all guardrails).
+        """
+        updated_kv = {
+            "team_id": "test-team",
+            "guardrails": [],
+            "policies": [],
+        }
+        _update_metadata_fields(updated_kv=updated_kv)
+        # The fields should have been moved into metadata
+        assert "guardrails" not in updated_kv, (
+            "guardrails should be popped from top-level"
+        )
+        assert "policies" not in updated_kv, (
+            "policies should be popped from top-level"
+        )
+        assert updated_kv["metadata"]["guardrails"] == []
+        assert updated_kv["metadata"]["policies"] == []
+
+    @patch("litellm.proxy.management_endpoints.common_utils._premium_user_check")
+    def test_empty_dict_does_not_trigger_premium_check(self, mock_premium_check):
+        """Empty dicts for premium fields must not trigger the premium check."""
+        updated_kv = {
+            "team_id": "test-team",
+            "secret_manager_settings": {},
+        }
+        _update_metadata_fields(updated_kv=updated_kv)
+        mock_premium_check.assert_not_called()
+
+    @patch("litellm.proxy.management_endpoints.common_utils._premium_user_check")
+    def test_empty_dict_still_updates_metadata(self, mock_premium_check):
+        """
+        Empty dicts must still be moved into metadata so users can clear
+        previously-set fields.
+        """
+        updated_kv = {
+            "team_id": "test-team",
+            "secret_manager_settings": {},
+        }
+        _update_metadata_fields(updated_kv=updated_kv)
+        assert "secret_manager_settings" not in updated_kv, (
+            "secret_manager_settings should be popped from top-level"
+        )
+        assert updated_kv["metadata"]["secret_manager_settings"] == {}
+
+    @patch("litellm.proxy.management_endpoints.common_utils._premium_user_check")
+    def test_none_value_does_not_trigger_premium_check(self, mock_premium_check):
+        """None values for premium fields should be silently ignored."""
+        updated_kv = {
+            "team_id": "test-team",
+            "guardrails": None,
+            "policies": None,
+        }
+        _update_metadata_fields(updated_kv=updated_kv)
+        mock_premium_check.assert_not_called()
+
+    @patch("litellm.proxy.management_endpoints.common_utils._premium_user_check")
+    def test_absent_fields_do_not_trigger_premium_check(self, mock_premium_check):
+        """Fields not present in the dict should not trigger premium check."""
+        updated_kv = {
+            "team_id": "test-team",
+            "team_alias": "example-team",
+        }
+        _update_metadata_fields(updated_kv=updated_kv)
+        mock_premium_check.assert_not_called()
+
+    @patch("litellm.proxy.management_endpoints.common_utils._premium_user_check")
+    def test_non_empty_list_triggers_premium_check(self, mock_premium_check):
+        """Non-empty lists for premium fields should trigger the premium check."""
+        updated_kv = {
+            "team_id": "test-team",
+            "guardrails": ["my-guardrail"],
+        }
+        _update_metadata_fields(updated_kv=updated_kv)
+        mock_premium_check.assert_called()
+
+    @patch("litellm.proxy.management_endpoints.common_utils._premium_user_check")
+    def test_non_empty_value_triggers_premium_check(self, mock_premium_check):
+        """Non-empty string values for premium fields should trigger the premium check."""
+        updated_kv = {
+            "team_id": "test-team",
+            "tags": ["production"],
+        }
+        _update_metadata_fields(updated_kv=updated_kv)
+        mock_premium_check.assert_called()
+
+    @patch("litellm.proxy.management_endpoints.common_utils._premium_user_check")
+    def test_non_empty_list_updates_metadata(self, mock_premium_check):
+        """Non-empty lists should be moved into metadata."""
+        updated_kv = {
+            "team_id": "test-team",
+            "guardrails": ["my-guardrail"],
+        }
+        _update_metadata_fields(updated_kv=updated_kv)
+        assert "guardrails" not in updated_kv
+        assert updated_kv["metadata"]["guardrails"] == ["my-guardrail"]
+
+    @patch("litellm.proxy.management_endpoints.common_utils._premium_user_check")
+    def test_ui_typical_payload_does_not_trigger_premium_check(self, mock_premium_check):
+        """
+        Simulate the exact payload the UI sends when no enterprise features
+        are configured.  This must NOT trigger the premium check.
+        """
+        # This is the payload structure the UI sends (from issue #20304)
+        updated_kv = {
+            "team_id": "67848772-1a8b-4343-938c-17e60f1db860",
+            "team_alias": "example-team",
+            "models": ["gpt-4"],
+            "metadata": {
+                "guardrails": [],
+                "logging": [],
+            },
+            "policies": [],
+        }
+        _update_metadata_fields(updated_kv=updated_kv)
+        mock_premium_check.assert_not_called()
diff --git a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/team/team_info.tsx b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/team/team_info.tsx
index 34ff903c864..b78216605ac 100644
--- a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/team/team_info.tsx
+++ b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/team/team_info.tsx
@@ -460,12 +460,12 @@ const TeamInfoView: React.FC<TeamInfoProps> = ({
         budget_duration: values.budget_duration,
         metadata: {
           ...parsedMetadata,
-          guardrails: values.guardrails || [],
-          logging: values.logging_settings || [],
+          ...(values.guardrails?.length > 0 ? { guardrails: values.guardrails } : {}),
+          ...(values.logging_settings?.length > 0 ? { logging: values.logging_settings } : {}),
           disable_global_guardrails: values.disable_global_guardrails || false,
           ...(secretManagerSettings !== undefined ? { secret_manager_settings: secretManagerSettings } : {}),
         },
-        policies: values.policies || [],
+        ...(values.policies?.length > 0 ? { policies: values.policies } : {}),
         organization_id: values.organization_id,
       };