diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/api/api_ruler.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/api/api_ruler.go
index d551a9e9f2b..8a77b72a9cf 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/api/api_ruler.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/api/api_ruler.go
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ func (srv RulerSrv) RoutePostNameRulesConfig(c *contextmodel.ReqContext, ruleGro
 		return ErrResp(http.StatusBadRequest, err, "")
 	}
 
-	rules, err := validateRuleGroup(&ruleGroupConfig, c.SignedInUser.GetOrgID(), namespace, srv.cfg)
+	rules, err := ValidateRuleGroup(&ruleGroupConfig, c.SignedInUser.GetOrgID(), namespace.UID, RuleLimitsFromConfig(srv.cfg))
 	if err != nil {
 		return ErrResp(http.StatusBadRequest, err, "")
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/api/api_ruler_export.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/api/api_ruler_export.go
index 406b342d6c6..f925a4d4a8a 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/api/api_ruler_export.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/api/api_ruler_export.go
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ func (srv RulerSrv) ExportFromPayload(c *contextmodel.ReqContext, ruleGroupConfi
 		return toNamespaceErrorResponse(err)
 	}
 
-	rulesWithOptionals, err := validateRuleGroup(&ruleGroupConfig, c.SignedInUser.GetOrgID(), namespace, srv.cfg)
+	rulesWithOptionals, err := ValidateRuleGroup(&ruleGroupConfig, c.SignedInUser.GetOrgID(), namespace.UID, RuleLimitsFromConfig(srv.cfg))
 	if err != nil {
 		return ErrResp(http.StatusBadRequest, err, "")
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/api/api_ruler_validation.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/api/api_ruler_validation.go
index 0d13fd0c2c2..91a012b0b1e 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/api/api_ruler_validation.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/api/api_ruler_validation.go
@@ -7,22 +7,35 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
-	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/folder"
 	apimodels "github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/ngalert/api/tooling/definitions"
 	ngmodels "github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/ngalert/models"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/ngalert/store"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/setting"
 )
 
+type RuleLimits struct {
+	// The default interval if not specified.
+	DefaultRuleEvaluationInterval time.Duration
+	// All intervals must be an integer multiple of this duration.
+	BaseInterval time.Duration
+}
+
+func RuleLimitsFromConfig(cfg *setting.UnifiedAlertingSettings) RuleLimits {
+	return RuleLimits{
+		DefaultRuleEvaluationInterval: cfg.DefaultRuleEvaluationInterval,
+		BaseInterval:                  cfg.BaseInterval,
+	}
+}
+
 // validateRuleNode validates API model (definitions.PostableExtendedRuleNode) and converts it to models.AlertRule
 func validateRuleNode(
 	ruleNode *apimodels.PostableExtendedRuleNode,
 	groupName string,
 	interval time.Duration,
 	orgId int64,
-	namespace *folder.Folder,
-	cfg *setting.UnifiedAlertingSettings) (*ngmodels.AlertRule, error) {
-	intervalSeconds, err := validateInterval(cfg, interval)
+	namespaceUID string,
+	limits RuleLimits) (*ngmodels.AlertRule, error) {
+	intervalSeconds, err := validateInterval(interval, limits.BaseInterval)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -91,7 +104,7 @@ func validateRuleNode(
 		Data:            queries,
 		UID:             ruleNode.GrafanaManagedAlert.UID,
 		IntervalSeconds: intervalSeconds,
-		NamespaceUID:    namespace.UID,
+		NamespaceUID:    namespaceUID,
 		RuleGroup:       groupName,
 		NoDataState:     noDataState,
 		ExecErrState:    errorState,
@@ -162,10 +175,10 @@ func validateCondition(condition string, queries []apimodels.AlertQuery) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func validateInterval(cfg *setting.UnifiedAlertingSettings, interval time.Duration) (int64, error) {
+func validateInterval(interval, baseInterval time.Duration) (int64, error) {
 	intervalSeconds := int64(interval.Seconds())
 
-	baseIntervalSeconds := int64(cfg.BaseInterval.Seconds())
+	baseIntervalSeconds := int64(baseInterval.Seconds())
 
 	if interval <= 0 {
 		return 0, fmt.Errorf("rule evaluation interval must be positive duration that is multiple of the base interval %d seconds", baseIntervalSeconds)
@@ -193,14 +206,14 @@ func validateForInterval(ruleNode *apimodels.PostableExtendedRuleNode) (time.Dur
 	return duration, nil
 }
 
-// validateRuleGroup validates API model (definitions.PostableRuleGroupConfig) and converts it to a collection of models.AlertRule.
+// ValidateRuleGroup validates API model (definitions.PostableRuleGroupConfig) and converts it to a collection of models.AlertRule.
 // Returns a slice that contains all rules described by API model or error if either group specification or an alert definition is not valid.
 // It also returns a map containing current existing alerts that don't contain the is_paused field in the body of the call.
-func validateRuleGroup(
+func ValidateRuleGroup(
 	ruleGroupConfig *apimodels.PostableRuleGroupConfig,
 	orgId int64,
-	namespace *folder.Folder,
-	cfg *setting.UnifiedAlertingSettings) ([]*ngmodels.AlertRuleWithOptionals, error) {
+	namespaceUID string,
+	limits RuleLimits) ([]*ngmodels.AlertRuleWithOptionals, error) {
 	if ruleGroupConfig.Name == "" {
 		return nil, errors.New("rule group name cannot be empty")
 	}
@@ -212,11 +225,11 @@ func validateRuleGroup(
 	interval := time.Duration(ruleGroupConfig.Interval)
 	if interval == 0 {
 		// if group interval is 0 (undefined) then we automatically fall back to the default interval
-		interval = cfg.DefaultRuleEvaluationInterval
+		interval = limits.DefaultRuleEvaluationInterval
 	}
 
-	if interval < 0 || int64(interval.Seconds())%int64(cfg.BaseInterval.Seconds()) != 0 {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("rule evaluation interval (%d second) should be positive number that is multiple of the base interval of %d seconds", int64(interval.Seconds()), int64(cfg.BaseInterval.Seconds()))
+	if interval < 0 || int64(interval.Seconds())%int64(limits.BaseInterval.Seconds()) != 0 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("rule evaluation interval (%d second) should be positive number that is multiple of the base interval of %d seconds", int64(interval.Seconds()), int64(limits.BaseInterval.Seconds()))
 	}
 
 	// TODO should we validate that interval is >= cfg.MinInterval? Currently, we allow to save but fix the specified interval if it is < cfg.MinInterval
@@ -224,7 +237,7 @@ func validateRuleGroup(
 	result := make([]*ngmodels.AlertRuleWithOptionals, 0, len(ruleGroupConfig.Rules))
 	uids := make(map[string]int, cap(result))
 	for idx := range ruleGroupConfig.Rules {
-		rule, err := validateRuleNode(&ruleGroupConfig.Rules[idx], ruleGroupConfig.Name, interval, orgId, namespace, cfg)
+		rule, err := validateRuleNode(&ruleGroupConfig.Rules[idx], ruleGroupConfig.Name, interval, orgId, namespaceUID, limits)
 		// TODO do not stop on the first failure but return all failures
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid rule specification at index [%d]: %w", idx, err)
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/api/api_ruler_validation_test.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/api/api_ruler_validation_test.go
index d763f9e2c85..0530e2378e4 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/api/api_ruler_validation_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/api/api_ruler_validation_test.go
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ func TestValidateRuleGroup(t *testing.T) {
 
 	t.Run("should validate struct and rules", func(t *testing.T) {
 		g := validGroup(cfg, rules...)
-		alerts, err := validateRuleGroup(&g, orgId, folder, cfg)
+		alerts, err := ValidateRuleGroup(&g, orgId, folder.UID, RuleLimitsFromConfig(cfg))
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		require.Len(t, alerts, len(rules))
 	})
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ func TestValidateRuleGroup(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("should default to default interval from config if group interval is 0", func(t *testing.T) {
 		g := validGroup(cfg, rules...)
 		g.Interval = 0
-		alerts, err := validateRuleGroup(&g, orgId, folder, cfg)
+		alerts, err := ValidateRuleGroup(&g, orgId, folder.UID, RuleLimitsFromConfig(cfg))
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		for _, alert := range alerts {
 			require.Equal(t, int64(cfg.DefaultRuleEvaluationInterval.Seconds()), alert.IntervalSeconds)
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ func TestValidateRuleGroup(t *testing.T) {
 			isPaused = !(isPaused)
 		}
 		g := validGroup(cfg, rules...)
-		alerts, err := validateRuleGroup(&g, orgId, folder, cfg)
+		alerts, err := ValidateRuleGroup(&g, orgId, folder.UID, RuleLimitsFromConfig(cfg))
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		for _, alert := range alerts {
 			require.True(t, alert.HasPause)
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ func TestValidateRuleGroupFailures(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, testCase := range testCases {
 		t.Run(testCase.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			g := testCase.group()
-			_, err := validateRuleGroup(g, orgId, folder, cfg)
+			_, err := ValidateRuleGroup(g, orgId, folder.UID, RuleLimitsFromConfig(cfg))
 			require.Error(t, err)
 			if testCase.assert != nil {
 				testCase.assert(t, g, err)
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ func TestValidateRuleNode_NoUID(t *testing.T) {
 			r := testCase.rule()
 			r.GrafanaManagedAlert.UID = ""
 
-			alert, err := validateRuleNode(r, name, interval, orgId, folder, cfg)
+			alert, err := validateRuleNode(r, name, interval, orgId, folder.UID, RuleLimitsFromConfig(cfg))
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			testCase.assert(t, r, alert)
 		})
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ func TestValidateRuleNode_NoUID(t *testing.T) {
 
 	t.Run("accepts empty group name", func(t *testing.T) {
 		r := validRule()
-		alert, err := validateRuleNode(&r, "", interval, orgId, folder, cfg)
+		alert, err := validateRuleNode(&r, "", interval, orgId, folder.UID, RuleLimitsFromConfig(cfg))
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		require.Equal(t, "", alert.RuleGroup)
 	})
@@ -560,7 +560,7 @@ func TestValidateRuleNodeFailures_NoUID(t *testing.T) {
 				interval = *testCase.interval
 			}
 
-			_, err := validateRuleNode(r, "", interval, orgId, folder, cfg)
+			_, err := validateRuleNode(r, "", interval, orgId, folder.UID, RuleLimitsFromConfig(cfg))
 			require.Error(t, err)
 			if testCase.assert != nil {
 				testCase.assert(t, r, err)
@@ -652,7 +652,7 @@ func TestValidateRuleNode_UID(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, testCase := range testCases {
 		t.Run(testCase.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			r := testCase.rule()
-			alert, err := validateRuleNode(r, name, interval, orgId, folder, cfg)
+			alert, err := validateRuleNode(r, name, interval, orgId, folder.UID, RuleLimitsFromConfig(cfg))
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			testCase.assert(t, r, alert)
 		})
@@ -660,7 +660,7 @@ func TestValidateRuleNode_UID(t *testing.T) {
 
 	t.Run("accepts empty group name", func(t *testing.T) {
 		r := validRule()
-		alert, err := validateRuleNode(&r, "", interval, orgId, folder, cfg)
+		alert, err := validateRuleNode(&r, "", interval, orgId, folder.UID, RuleLimitsFromConfig(cfg))
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		require.Equal(t, "", alert.RuleGroup)
 	})
@@ -755,7 +755,7 @@ func TestValidateRuleNodeFailures_UID(t *testing.T) {
 				interval = *testCase.interval
 			}
 
-			_, err := validateRuleNode(r, "", interval, orgId, folder, cfg)
+			_, err := validateRuleNode(r, "", interval, orgId, folder.UID, RuleLimitsFromConfig(cfg))
 			require.Error(t, err)
 			if testCase.assert != nil {
 				testCase.assert(t, r, err)
@@ -788,7 +788,7 @@ func TestValidateRuleNodeIntervalFailures(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, testCase := range testCases {
 		t.Run(testCase.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			r := validRule()
-			_, err := validateRuleNode(&r, util.GenerateShortUID(), testCase.interval, rand.Int63(), randFolder(), cfg)
+			_, err := validateRuleNode(&r, util.GenerateShortUID(), testCase.interval, rand.Int63(), randFolder().UID, RuleLimitsFromConfig(cfg))
 			require.Error(t, err)
 		})
 	}
@@ -880,7 +880,7 @@ func TestValidateRuleNodeNotificationSettings(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			r := validRule()
 			r.GrafanaManagedAlert.NotificationSettings = AlertRuleNotificationSettingsFromNotificationSettings([]models.NotificationSettings{tt.notificationSettings})
-			_, err := validateRuleNode(&r, util.GenerateShortUID(), cfg.BaseInterval*time.Duration(rand.Int63n(10)+1), rand.Int63(), randFolder(), cfg)
+			_, err := validateRuleNode(&r, util.GenerateShortUID(), cfg.BaseInterval*time.Duration(rand.Int63n(10)+1), rand.Int63(), randFolder().UID, RuleLimitsFromConfig(cfg))
 
 			if tt.expErrorContains != "" {
 				require.Error(t, err)
@@ -901,7 +901,7 @@ func TestValidateRuleNodeReservedLabels(t *testing.T) {
 			r.ApiRuleNode.Labels = map[string]string{
 				label: "true",
 			}
-			_, err := validateRuleNode(&r, util.GenerateShortUID(), cfg.BaseInterval*time.Duration(rand.Int63n(10)+1), rand.Int63(), randFolder(), cfg)
+			_, err := validateRuleNode(&r, util.GenerateShortUID(), cfg.BaseInterval*time.Duration(rand.Int63n(10)+1), rand.Int63(), randFolder().UID, RuleLimitsFromConfig(cfg))
 			require.Error(t, err)
 			require.ErrorContains(t, err, label)
 		})
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/api/api_testing.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/api/api_testing.go
index 5e54dc8869c..9d715ddd96a 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/api/api_testing.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/api/api_testing.go
@@ -66,8 +66,8 @@ func (srv TestingApiSrv) RouteTestGrafanaRuleConfig(c *contextmodel.ReqContext,
 		body.RuleGroup,
 		srv.cfg.BaseInterval,
 		c.SignedInUser.GetOrgID(),
-		folder,
-		srv.cfg,
+		folder.UID,
+		RuleLimitsFromConfig(srv.cfg),
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		return ErrResp(http.StatusBadRequest, err, "")
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ func (srv TestingApiSrv) BacktestAlertRule(c *contextmodel.ReqContext, cmd apimo
 		return ErrResp(400, nil, "Bad For interval")
 	}
 
-	intervalSeconds, err := validateInterval(srv.cfg, time.Duration(cmd.Interval))
+	intervalSeconds, err := validateInterval(time.Duration(cmd.Interval), srv.cfg.BaseInterval)
 	if err != nil {
 		return ErrResp(400, err, "")
 	}