diff --git a/truss-chains/tests/chains_e2e_test.py b/truss-chains/tests/chains_e2e_test.py
index f10d90cbe..a64adc6f1 100644
--- a/truss-chains/tests/chains_e2e_test.py
+++ b/truss-chains/tests/chains_e2e_test.py
@@ -16,7 +16,9 @@ def test_chain():
         root = Path(__file__).parent.resolve()
         chain_root = root / "itest_chain" / "itest_chain.py"
         with framework.import_target(chain_root, "ItestChain") as entrypoint:
-            options = definitions.PushOptionsLocalDocker(chain_name="integration-test")
+            options = definitions.PushOptionsLocalDocker(
+                chain_name="integration-test", use_local_chains_src=True
+            )
             service = remote.push(entrypoint, options)
 
         url = service.run_remote_url.replace("host.docker.internal", "localhost")
diff --git a/truss-chains/tests/itest_chain/itest_chain.py b/truss-chains/tests/itest_chain/itest_chain.py
index 5881ad4f3..cdff415f0 100644
--- a/truss-chains/tests/itest_chain/itest_chain.py
+++ b/truss-chains/tests/itest_chain/itest_chain.py
@@ -34,7 +34,13 @@ def run_remote(self, length: int) -> str:
 class TextReplicator(chains.ChainletBase):
     remote_config = chains.RemoteConfig(docker_image=IMAGE_CUSTOM)
 
-    def __init__(self, context=chains.depends_context()):
+    def __init__(self):
+        try:
+            import pytzdata
+
+            print(f"Could import {pytzdata} is present")
+        except ModuleNotFoundError:
+            print("Could not import pytzdata is present")
         self.multiplier = 2
 
     def run_remote(self, data: str) -> str:
diff --git a/truss-chains/tests/itest_chain/requirements.txt b/truss-chains/tests/itest_chain/requirements.txt
index 4ba9dc6e1..8f9daaa9d 100644
--- a/truss-chains/tests/itest_chain/requirements.txt
+++ b/truss-chains/tests/itest_chain/requirements.txt
@@ -1 +1 @@
-git+https://github.com/basetenlabs/truss.git
+pytzdata
diff --git a/truss-chains/truss_chains/code_gen.py b/truss-chains/truss_chains/code_gen.py
index 526d3deea..62f820425 100644
--- a/truss-chains/truss_chains/code_gen.py
+++ b/truss-chains/truss_chains/code_gen.py
@@ -563,6 +563,7 @@ def _make_truss_config(
     chains_config: definitions.RemoteConfig,
     chainlet_to_service: Mapping[str, definitions.ServiceDescriptor],
     model_name: str,
+    use_local_chains_src: bool,
 ) -> truss_config.TrussConfig:
     """Generate a truss config for a Chainlet."""
     config = truss_config.TrussConfig()
@@ -592,6 +593,7 @@ def _make_truss_config(
     if chains_config.docker_image.external_package_dirs:
         for ext_dir in chains_config.docker_image.external_package_dirs:
             config.external_package_dirs.append(ext_dir.abs_path)
+    config.use_local_chains_src = use_local_chains_src
     # Assets.
     assets = chains_config.get_asset_spec()
     config.secrets = assets.secrets
@@ -623,6 +625,7 @@ def gen_truss_chainlet(
     chain_name: str,
     chainlet_descriptor: definitions.ChainletAPIDescriptor,
     model_name: str,
+    use_local_chains_src: bool,
 ) -> pathlib.Path:
     # Filter needed services and customize options.
     dep_services = {}
@@ -641,6 +644,7 @@ def gen_truss_chainlet(
         chainlet_descriptor.chainlet_cls.remote_config,
         dep_services,
         model_name,
+        use_local_chains_src,
     )
     # TODO This assumes all imports are absolute w.r.t chain root (or site-packages).
     truss_path.copy_tree_path(
diff --git a/truss-chains/truss_chains/definitions.py b/truss-chains/truss_chains/definitions.py
index 3acf81e5e..239147057 100644
--- a/truss-chains/truss_chains/definitions.py
+++ b/truss-chains/truss_chains/definitions.py
@@ -661,3 +661,7 @@ class PushOptionsLocalDocker(PushOptions):
     # is unset. Additionally, if local docker containers make calls to models deployed
     # on baseten, a real API key must be provided (i.e. the default must be overridden).
     baseten_chain_api_key: str = "docker_dummy_key"
+    # If enabled, chains code is copied from the local package into `/app/truss_chains`
+    # in the docker image (which takes precedence over potential pip/site-packages).
+    # This should be used for integration tests or quick local dev loops.
+    use_local_chains_src: bool = False
diff --git a/truss-chains/truss_chains/remote.py b/truss-chains/truss_chains/remote.py
index 0ab513aa9..5a99bb6b9 100644
--- a/truss-chains/truss_chains/remote.py
+++ b/truss-chains/truss_chains/remote.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 from truss.remote.baseten import custom_types as b10_types
 from truss.remote.baseten import remote as b10_remote
 from truss.remote.baseten import service as b10_service
-from truss.truss_handle import build as truss_build
+from truss.truss_handle import truss_handle
 from truss.util import log_utils
 from truss.util import path as truss_path
 
@@ -87,11 +87,9 @@ def _push_service_docker(
     options: definitions.PushOptionsLocalDocker,
     port: int,
 ) -> None:
-    truss_handle = truss_build.load(str(truss_dir))
-    truss_handle.add_secret(
-        definitions.BASETEN_API_SECRET_NAME, options.baseten_chain_api_key
-    )
-    truss_handle.docker_run(
+    th = truss_handle.TrussHandle(truss_dir)
+    th.add_secret(definitions.BASETEN_API_SECRET_NAME, options.baseten_chain_api_key)
+    th.docker_run(
         local_port=port,
         detach=True,
         wait_for_server_ready=True,
@@ -319,6 +317,12 @@ def __init__(
         self._options = options
         self._gen_root = gen_root or pathlib.Path(tempfile.gettempdir())
 
+    @property
+    def _use_local_chains_src(self) -> bool:
+        if isinstance(self._options, definitions.PushOptionsLocalDocker):
+            return self._options.use_local_chains_src
+        return False
+
     def generate_chainlet_artifacts(
         self,
         entrypoint: Type[definitions.ABCChainlet],
@@ -340,6 +344,7 @@ def generate_chainlet_artifacts(
                 self._options.chain_name,
                 chainlet_descriptor,
                 model_name,
+                self._use_local_chains_src,
             )
             artifact = b10_types.ChainletArtifact(
                 truss_dir=chainlet_dir,
@@ -547,6 +552,7 @@ def _code_gen_and_patch_thread(
                 self._deployed_chain_name,
                 descr,
                 self._chainlet_data[descr.display_name].oracle_name,
+                use_local_chains_src=False,
             )
             patch_result = self._remote_provider.patch_for_chainlet(
                 chainlet_dir, self._ignore_patterns
diff --git a/truss/base/constants.py b/truss/base/constants.py
index 94dce03a8..2ffc69518 100644
--- a/truss/base/constants.py
+++ b/truss/base/constants.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
     TEMPLATES_DIR / SHARED_SERVING_AND_TRAINING_CODE_DIR_NAME
 )
 CONTROL_SERVER_CODE_DIR: pathlib.Path = TEMPLATES_DIR / "control"
+CHAINS_CODE_DIR: pathlib.Path = _TRUSS_ROOT.parent / "truss-chains" / "truss_chains"
 
 SUPPORTED_PYTHON_VERSIONS = {"3.8", "3.9", "3.10", "3.11"}
 MAX_SUPPORTED_PYTHON_VERSION_IN_CUSTOM_BASE_IMAGE = "3.12"
diff --git a/truss/base/truss_config.py b/truss/base/truss_config.py
index da0af2645..21eac56f9 100644
--- a/truss/base/truss_config.py
+++ b/truss/base/truss_config.py
@@ -560,6 +560,7 @@ class TrussConfig:
     model_cache: ModelCache = field(default_factory=ModelCache)
     trt_llm: Optional[TRTLLMConfiguration] = None
     build_commands: List[str] = field(default_factory=list)
+    use_local_chains_src: bool = False
 
     @property
     def canonical_python_version(self) -> str:
@@ -619,6 +620,7 @@ def from_dict(d):
                 d.get("trt_llm"), lambda x: TRTLLMConfiguration(**x)
             ),
             build_commands=d.get("build_commands", []),
+            use_local_chains_src=d.get("use_local_chains_src", False),
         )
         config.validate()
         return config
diff --git a/truss/contexts/image_builder/serving_image_builder.py b/truss/contexts/image_builder/serving_image_builder.py
index 698180337..19c209c38 100644
--- a/truss/contexts/image_builder/serving_image_builder.py
+++ b/truss/contexts/image_builder/serving_image_builder.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
     AUDIO_MODEL_TRTLLM_TRUSS_DIR,
     BASE_SERVER_REQUIREMENTS_TXT_FILENAME,
     BASE_TRTLLM_REQUIREMENTS,
+    CHAINS_CODE_DIR,
     CONTROL_SERVER_CODE_DIR,
     DOCKER_SERVER_TEMPLATES_DIR,
     FILENAME_CONSTANTS_MAP,
@@ -68,6 +69,7 @@
 BUILD_SERVER_DIR_NAME = "server"
 BUILD_CONTROL_SERVER_DIR_NAME = "control"
 BUILD_SERVER_EXTENSIONS_PATH = "extensions"
+BUILD_CHAINS_DIR_NAME = "truss_chains"
 
 CONFIG_FILE = "config.yaml"
 USER_TRUSS_IGNORE_FILE = ".truss_ignore"
@@ -356,8 +358,6 @@ def prepare_image_build_dir(
             # TODO(pankaj) We probably don't need model framework specific directory.
             build_dir = build_truss_target_directory(model_framework_name)
 
-        data_dir = build_dir / config.data_dir  # type: ignore[operator]
-
         def copy_into_build_dir(from_path: Path, path_in_build_dir: str):
             copy_tree_or_file(from_path, build_dir / path_in_build_dir)  # type: ignore[operator]
 
@@ -464,6 +464,9 @@ def copy_into_build_dir(from_path: Path, path_in_build_dir: str):
                 + SHARED_SERVING_AND_TRAINING_CODE_DIR_NAME,
             )
 
+        if config.use_local_chains_src:
+            copy_into_build_dir(CHAINS_CODE_DIR, BUILD_CHAINS_DIR_NAME)
+
         # Copy base TrussServer requirements if supplied custom base image
         base_truss_server_reqs_filepath = SERVER_CODE_DIR / REQUIREMENTS_TXT_FILENAME
         if config.base_image:
@@ -604,6 +607,7 @@ def _render_dockerfile(
             hf_access_token_file_name=HF_ACCESS_TOKEN_FILE_NAME,
             external_data_files=external_data_files,
             build_commands=build_commands,
+            use_local_chains_src=config.use_local_chains_src,
             **FILENAME_CONSTANTS_MAP,
         )
         docker_file_path = build_dir / MODEL_DOCKERFILE_NAME
diff --git a/truss/templates/server.Dockerfile.jinja b/truss/templates/server.Dockerfile.jinja
index a7ac1032c..49b7d4a14 100644
--- a/truss/templates/server.Dockerfile.jinja
+++ b/truss/templates/server.Dockerfile.jinja
@@ -78,6 +78,11 @@ COPY ./{{config.data_dir}} /app/data
 
 COPY ./server /app
 
+{%- if use_local_chains_src %}
+{# This path takes precedence over site-packages. #}
+COPY ./truss_chains /app/truss_chains
+{%- endif %}
+
 COPY ./config.yaml /app/config.yaml
     {%- if config.live_reload and not config.docker_server%}
 COPY ./control /control
diff --git a/truss/truss_handle/truss_handle.py b/truss/truss_handle/truss_handle.py
index 3ce1bad90..f4cdb2f14 100644
--- a/truss/truss_handle/truss_handle.py
+++ b/truss/truss_handle/truss_handle.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 import uuid
 from dataclasses import replace
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import Any, Callable, Dict, List, Optional, Tuple, Union
+from typing import Any, Callable, Dict, List, Optional, Tuple, Type, Union
 from urllib.error import HTTPError
 
 import requests
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
     ServingImageBuilderContext,
 )
 from truss.contexts.local_loader.load_model_local import LoadModelLocal
+from truss.contexts.truss_context import TrussContext
 from truss.local.local_config_handler import LocalConfigHandler
 from truss.templates.shared.serialization import (
     truss_msgpack_deserialize,
@@ -950,7 +951,7 @@ def _get_serving_lookup_labels(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
 
     def _build_image(
         self,
-        builder_context,
+        builder_context: Type[TrussContext],
         labels: Dict[str, str],
         build_dir: Optional[Path] = None,
         tag: Optional[str] = None,