diff --git a/phosphor-power-sequencer/src/config_file_parser.cpp b/phosphor-power-sequencer/src/config_file_parser.cpp
index 18fe32e..9e4a18d 100644
--- a/phosphor-power-sequencer/src/config_file_parser.cpp
+++ b/phosphor-power-sequencer/src/config_file_parser.cpp
@@ -95,7 +95,8 @@
 {
 
 std::unique_ptr<Chassis> parseChassis(
-    const json& element, std::map<std::string, JSONRefWrapper> chassisTemplates,
+    const json& element,
+    const std::map<std::string, JSONRefWrapper>& chassisTemplates,
     Services& services)
 {
     verifyIsObject(element);
@@ -148,7 +149,8 @@
 }
 
 std::vector<std::unique_ptr<Chassis>> parseChassisArray(
-    const json& element, std::map<std::string, JSONRefWrapper> chassisTemplates,
+    const json& element,
+    const std::map<std::string, JSONRefWrapper>& chassisTemplates,
     Services& services)
 {
     verifyIsArray(element);
@@ -251,6 +253,18 @@
     return {id, JSONRefWrapper{element}};
 }
 
+std::map<std::string, JSONRefWrapper> parseChassisTemplateArray(
+    const json& element)
+{
+    verifyIsArray(element);
+    std::map<std::string, JSONRefWrapper> chassisTemplates;
+    for (auto& chassisTemplateElement : element)
+    {
+        chassisTemplates.emplace(parseChassisTemplate(chassisTemplateElement));
+    }
+    return chassisTemplates;
+}
+
 GPIO parseGPIO(const json& element,
                const std::map<std::string, std::string>& variables)
 {
diff --git a/phosphor-power-sequencer/src/config_file_parser.hpp b/phosphor-power-sequencer/src/config_file_parser.hpp
index 665029e..f43ad0e 100644
--- a/phosphor-power-sequencer/src/config_file_parser.hpp
+++ b/phosphor-power-sequencer/src/config_file_parser.hpp
@@ -99,7 +99,8 @@
  * @return Chassis object
  */
 std::unique_ptr<Chassis> parseChassis(
-    const json& element, std::map<std::string, JSONRefWrapper> chassisTemplates,
+    const json& element,
+    const std::map<std::string, JSONRefWrapper>& chassisTemplates,
     Services& services);
 
 /**
@@ -115,7 +116,8 @@
  * @return vector of Chassis objects
  */
 std::vector<std::unique_ptr<Chassis>> parseChassisArray(
-    const json& element, std::map<std::string, JSONRefWrapper> chassisTemplates,
+    const json& element,
+    const std::map<std::string, JSONRefWrapper>& chassisTemplates,
     Services& services);
 
 /**
@@ -142,6 +144,17 @@
  *
  * Returns the template ID and a C++ reference_wrapper to the JSON element.
  *
+ * A chassis_template object cannot be fully parsed in isolation. It is a
+ * template that contains variables.
+ *
+ * The chassis_template object is used by one or more chassis objects to avoid
+ * duplicate JSON. The chassis objects define chassis-specific values for the
+ * template variables.
+ *
+ * When the chassis object is parsed, the chassis_template JSON will be
+ * re-parsed, and the template variables will be replaced with the
+ * chassis-specific values.
+ *
  * Throws an exception if parsing fails.
  *
  * @param element JSON element
@@ -151,6 +164,22 @@
     const json& element);
 
 /**
+ * Parses a JSON element containing an array of chassis_template objects.
+ *
+ * Returns a map of template IDs to chassis_template JSON elements.
+ *
+ * Note that chassis_template objects cannot be fully parsed in isolation. See
+ * parseChassisTemplate() for more information.
+ *
+ * Throws an exception if parsing fails.
+ *
+ * @param element JSON element
+ * @return chassis templates map
+ */
+std::map<std::string, JSONRefWrapper> parseChassisTemplateArray(
+    const json& element);
+
+/**
  * Parses a JSON element containing a GPIO.
  *
  * Returns the corresponding C++ GPIO object.