diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api.proto b/esphome/components/api/api.proto
index 6b19f2026a..5d8d59b1f8 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api.proto
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api.proto
@@ -69,6 +69,9 @@ service APIConnection {
   rpc voice_assistant_set_configuration(VoiceAssistantSetConfiguration) returns (void) {}
 
   rpc alarm_control_panel_command (AlarmControlPanelCommandRequest) returns (void) {}
+
+  rpc zwave_proxy_read(ZWaveProxyReadRequest) returns (void) {}
+  rpc zwave_proxy_write(ZWaveProxyWriteRequest) returns (void) {}
 }
 
 
@@ -255,6 +258,9 @@ message DeviceInfoResponse {
 
   // Top-level area info to phase out suggested_area
   AreaInfo area = 22 [(field_ifdef) = "USE_AREAS"];
+
+  // Indicates if Z-Wave proxy support is available and features supported
+  uint32 zwave_proxy_feature_flags = 23 [(field_ifdef) = "USE_ZWAVE_PROXY"];
 }
 
 message ListEntitiesRequest {
@@ -2275,3 +2281,37 @@ message UpdateCommandRequest {
   UpdateCommand command = 2;
   uint32 device_id = 3 [(field_ifdef) = "USE_DEVICES"];
 }
+
+// ==================== Z-WAVE ====================
+
+message ZWaveProxyReadRequest {
+  option (id) = 128;
+  option (source) = SOURCE_CLIENT;
+  option (ifdef) = "USE_ZWAVE_PROXY";
+  option (no_delay) = true;
+}
+
+message ZWaveProxyReadResponse {
+  option (id) = 129;
+  option (source) = SOURCE_SERVER;
+  option (ifdef) = "USE_ZWAVE_PROXY";
+  option (no_delay) = true;
+
+  string data = 1;
+}
+
+message ZWaveProxyWriteRequest {
+  option (id) = 130;
+  option (source) = SOURCE_CLIENT;
+  option (ifdef) = "USE_ZWAVE_PROXY";
+  option (no_delay) = true;
+
+  string data = 1;
+}
+
+message ZWaveProxyWriteResponse {
+  option (id) = 131;
+  option (source) = SOURCE_SERVER;
+  option (ifdef) = "USE_ZWAVE_PROXY";
+  option (no_delay) = true;
+}
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
index ced0f489be..7c4abbe47f 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
@@ -30,6 +30,9 @@
 #ifdef USE_VOICE_ASSISTANT
 #include "esphome/components/voice_assistant/voice_assistant.h"
 #endif
+#ifdef USE_ZWAVE_PROXY
+#include "esphome/components/zwave_proxy/zwave_proxy.h"
+#endif
 
 namespace esphome::api {
 
@@ -1203,7 +1206,13 @@ void APIConnection::voice_assistant_set_configuration(const VoiceAssistantSetCon
     voice_assistant::global_voice_assistant->on_set_configuration(msg.active_wake_words);
   }
 }
+#endif
 
+#ifdef USE_ZWAVE_PROXY
+void APIConnection::zwave_proxy_read(const ZWaveProxyReadRequest &msg) {}
+void APIConnection::zwave_proxy_write(const ZWaveProxyWriteRequest &msg) {
+  zwave_proxy::global_zwave_proxy->send_frame(msg.data);
+}
 #endif
 
 #ifdef USE_ALARM_CONTROL_PANEL
@@ -1468,6 +1477,9 @@ bool APIConnection::send_device_info_response(const DeviceInfoRequest &msg) {
 #ifdef USE_VOICE_ASSISTANT
   resp.voice_assistant_feature_flags = voice_assistant::global_voice_assistant->get_feature_flags();
 #endif
+#ifdef USE_ZWAVE_PROXY
+  resp.zwave_proxy_feature_flags = zwave_proxy::global_zwave_proxy->get_feature_flags();
+#endif
 #ifdef USE_API_NOISE
   resp.api_encryption_supported = true;
 #endif
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.h b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.h
index f711502746..e07ba315f4 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.h
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.h
@@ -171,6 +171,11 @@ class APIConnection final : public APIServerConnection {
   void voice_assistant_set_configuration(const VoiceAssistantSetConfiguration &msg) override;
 #endif
 
+#ifdef USE_ZWAVE_PROXY
+  void zwave_proxy_read(const ZWaveProxyReadRequest &msg) override;
+  void zwave_proxy_write(const ZWaveProxyWriteRequest &msg) override;
+#endif
+
 #ifdef USE_ALARM_CONTROL_PANEL
   bool send_alarm_control_panel_state(alarm_control_panel::AlarmControlPanel *a_alarm_control_panel);
   void alarm_control_panel_command(const AlarmControlPanelCommandRequest &msg) override;
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.cpp
index 476e3c88d0..2154de05b9 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.cpp
@@ -127,6 +127,9 @@ void DeviceInfoResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer buffer) const {
 #ifdef USE_AREAS
   buffer.encode_message(22, this->area);
 #endif
+#ifdef USE_ZWAVE_PROXY
+  buffer.encode_uint32(23, this->zwave_proxy_feature_flags);
+#endif
 }
 void DeviceInfoResponse::calculate_size(ProtoSize &size) const {
 #ifdef USE_API_PASSWORD
@@ -179,6 +182,9 @@ void DeviceInfoResponse::calculate_size(ProtoSize &size) const {
 #ifdef USE_AREAS
   size.add_message_object(2, this->area);
 #endif
+#ifdef USE_ZWAVE_PROXY
+  size.add_uint32(2, this->zwave_proxy_feature_flags);
+#endif
 }
 #ifdef USE_BINARY_SENSOR
 void ListEntitiesBinarySensorResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer buffer) const {
@@ -3001,5 +3007,19 @@ bool UpdateCommandRequest::decode_32bit(uint32_t field_id, Proto32Bit value) {
   return true;
 }
 #endif
+#ifdef USE_ZWAVE_PROXY
+void ZWaveProxyReadResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer buffer) const { buffer.encode_string(1, this->data_ref_); }
+void ZWaveProxyReadResponse::calculate_size(ProtoSize &size) const { size.add_length(1, this->data_ref_.size()); }
+bool ZWaveProxyWriteRequest::decode_length(uint32_t field_id, ProtoLengthDelimited value) {
+  switch (field_id) {
+    case 1:
+      this->data = value.as_string();
+      break;
+    default:
+      return false;
+  }
+  return true;
+}
+#endif
 
 }  // namespace esphome::api
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.h b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.h
index abdf0e6121..5712c139e2 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.h
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.h
@@ -490,7 +490,7 @@ class DeviceInfo final : public ProtoMessage {
 class DeviceInfoResponse final : public ProtoMessage {
  public:
   static constexpr uint8_t MESSAGE_TYPE = 10;
-  static constexpr uint8_t ESTIMATED_SIZE = 247;
+  static constexpr uint8_t ESTIMATED_SIZE = 252;
 #ifdef HAS_PROTO_MESSAGE_DUMP
   const char *message_name() const override { return "device_info_response"; }
 #endif
@@ -550,6 +550,9 @@ class DeviceInfoResponse final : public ProtoMessage {
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_AREAS
   AreaInfo area{};
+#endif
+#ifdef USE_ZWAVE_PROXY
+  uint32_t zwave_proxy_feature_flags{0};
 #endif
   void encode(ProtoWriteBuffer buffer) const override;
   void calculate_size(ProtoSize &size) const override;
@@ -2910,5 +2913,65 @@ class UpdateCommandRequest final : public CommandProtoMessage {
   bool decode_varint(uint32_t field_id, ProtoVarInt value) override;
 };
 #endif
+#ifdef USE_ZWAVE_PROXY
+class ZWaveProxyReadRequest final : public ProtoMessage {
+ public:
+  static constexpr uint8_t MESSAGE_TYPE = 128;
+  static constexpr uint8_t ESTIMATED_SIZE = 0;
+#ifdef HAS_PROTO_MESSAGE_DUMP
+  const char *message_name() const override { return "z_wave_proxy_read_request"; }
+#endif
+#ifdef HAS_PROTO_MESSAGE_DUMP
+  void dump_to(std::string &out) const override;
+#endif
+
+ protected:
+};
+class ZWaveProxyReadResponse final : public ProtoMessage {
+ public:
+  static constexpr uint8_t MESSAGE_TYPE = 129;
+  static constexpr uint8_t ESTIMATED_SIZE = 9;
+#ifdef HAS_PROTO_MESSAGE_DUMP
+  const char *message_name() const override { return "z_wave_proxy_read_response"; }
+#endif
+  StringRef data_ref_{};
+  void set_data(const StringRef &ref) { this->data_ref_ = ref; }
+  void encode(ProtoWriteBuffer buffer) const override;
+  void calculate_size(ProtoSize &size) const override;
+#ifdef HAS_PROTO_MESSAGE_DUMP
+  void dump_to(std::string &out) const override;
+#endif
+
+ protected:
+};
+class ZWaveProxyWriteRequest final : public ProtoDecodableMessage {
+ public:
+  static constexpr uint8_t MESSAGE_TYPE = 130;
+  static constexpr uint8_t ESTIMATED_SIZE = 9;
+#ifdef HAS_PROTO_MESSAGE_DUMP
+  const char *message_name() const override { return "z_wave_proxy_write_request"; }
+#endif
+  std::string data{};
+#ifdef HAS_PROTO_MESSAGE_DUMP
+  void dump_to(std::string &out) const override;
+#endif
+
+ protected:
+  bool decode_length(uint32_t field_id, ProtoLengthDelimited value) override;
+};
+class ZWaveProxyWriteResponse final : public ProtoMessage {
+ public:
+  static constexpr uint8_t MESSAGE_TYPE = 131;
+  static constexpr uint8_t ESTIMATED_SIZE = 0;
+#ifdef HAS_PROTO_MESSAGE_DUMP
+  const char *message_name() const override { return "z_wave_proxy_write_response"; }
+#endif
+#ifdef HAS_PROTO_MESSAGE_DUMP
+  void dump_to(std::string &out) const override;
+#endif
+
+ protected:
+};
+#endif
 
 }  // namespace esphome::api
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_dump.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_dump.cpp
index 7af322f96d..660852423b 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_dump.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_dump.cpp
@@ -749,6 +749,9 @@ void DeviceInfoResponse::dump_to(std::string &out) const {
   this->area.dump_to(out);
   out.append("\n");
 #endif
+#ifdef USE_ZWAVE_PROXY
+  dump_field(out, "zwave_proxy_feature_flags", this->zwave_proxy_feature_flags);
+#endif
 }
 void ListEntitiesRequest::dump_to(std::string &out) const { out.append("ListEntitiesRequest {}"); }
 void ListEntitiesDoneResponse::dump_to(std::string &out) const { out.append("ListEntitiesDoneResponse {}"); }
@@ -2097,6 +2100,12 @@ void UpdateCommandRequest::dump_to(std::string &out) const {
 #endif
 }
 #endif
+#ifdef USE_ZWAVE_PROXY
+void ZWaveProxyReadRequest::dump_to(std::string &out) const { out.append("ZWaveProxyReadRequest {}"); }
+void ZWaveProxyReadResponse::dump_to(std::string &out) const { dump_field(out, "data", this->data_ref_); }
+void ZWaveProxyWriteRequest::dump_to(std::string &out) const { dump_field(out, "data", this->data); }
+void ZWaveProxyWriteResponse::dump_to(std::string &out) const { out.append("ZWaveProxyWriteResponse {}"); }
+#endif
 
 }  // namespace esphome::api
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_service.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_service.cpp
index 6b7b8b9ebd..a85150285f 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_service.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_service.cpp
@@ -595,6 +595,28 @@ void APIServerConnectionBase::read_message(uint32_t msg_size, uint32_t msg_type,
       this->on_bluetooth_scanner_set_mode_request(msg);
       break;
     }
+#endif
+#ifdef USE_ZWAVE_PROXY
+    case ZWaveProxyReadRequest::MESSAGE_TYPE: {
+      ZWaveProxyReadRequest msg;
+      // Empty message: no decode needed
+#ifdef HAS_PROTO_MESSAGE_DUMP
+      ESP_LOGVV(TAG, "on_z_wave_proxy_read_request: %s", msg.dump().c_str());
+#endif
+      this->on_z_wave_proxy_read_request(msg);
+      break;
+    }
+#endif
+#ifdef USE_ZWAVE_PROXY
+    case ZWaveProxyWriteRequest::MESSAGE_TYPE: {
+      ZWaveProxyWriteRequest msg;
+      msg.decode(msg_data, msg_size);
+#ifdef HAS_PROTO_MESSAGE_DUMP
+      ESP_LOGVV(TAG, "on_z_wave_proxy_write_request: %s", msg.dump().c_str());
+#endif
+      this->on_z_wave_proxy_write_request(msg);
+      break;
+    }
 #endif
     default:
       break;
@@ -909,5 +931,19 @@ void APIServerConnection::on_alarm_control_panel_command_request(const AlarmCont
   }
 }
 #endif
+#ifdef USE_ZWAVE_PROXY
+void APIServerConnection::on_z_wave_proxy_read_request(const ZWaveProxyReadRequest &msg) {
+  if (this->check_authenticated_()) {
+    this->zwave_proxy_read(msg);
+  }
+}
+#endif
+#ifdef USE_ZWAVE_PROXY
+void APIServerConnection::on_z_wave_proxy_write_request(const ZWaveProxyWriteRequest &msg) {
+  if (this->check_authenticated_()) {
+    this->zwave_proxy_write(msg);
+  }
+}
+#endif
 
 }  // namespace esphome::api
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_service.h b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_service.h
index 6172e33bf6..05009a368a 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_service.h
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_service.h
@@ -206,6 +206,14 @@ class APIServerConnectionBase : public ProtoService {
 #ifdef USE_UPDATE
   virtual void on_update_command_request(const UpdateCommandRequest &value){};
 #endif
+#ifdef USE_ZWAVE_PROXY
+  virtual void on_z_wave_proxy_read_request(const ZWaveProxyReadRequest &value){};
+#endif
+
+#ifdef USE_ZWAVE_PROXY
+  virtual void on_z_wave_proxy_write_request(const ZWaveProxyWriteRequest &value){};
+#endif
+
  protected:
   void read_message(uint32_t msg_size, uint32_t msg_type, uint8_t *msg_data) override;
 };
@@ -332,6 +340,12 @@ class APIServerConnection : public APIServerConnectionBase {
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_ALARM_CONTROL_PANEL
   virtual void alarm_control_panel_command(const AlarmControlPanelCommandRequest &msg) = 0;
+#endif
+#ifdef USE_ZWAVE_PROXY
+  virtual void zwave_proxy_read(const ZWaveProxyReadRequest &msg) = 0;
+#endif
+#ifdef USE_ZWAVE_PROXY
+  virtual void zwave_proxy_write(const ZWaveProxyWriteRequest &msg) = 0;
 #endif
  protected:
   void on_hello_request(const HelloRequest &msg) override;
@@ -455,6 +469,12 @@ class APIServerConnection : public APIServerConnectionBase {
 #ifdef USE_ALARM_CONTROL_PANEL
   void on_alarm_control_panel_command_request(const AlarmControlPanelCommandRequest &msg) override;
 #endif
+#ifdef USE_ZWAVE_PROXY
+  void on_z_wave_proxy_read_request(const ZWaveProxyReadRequest &msg) override;
+#endif
+#ifdef USE_ZWAVE_PROXY
+  void on_z_wave_proxy_write_request(const ZWaveProxyWriteRequest &msg) override;
+#endif
 };
 
 }  // namespace esphome::api
diff --git a/esphome/components/zwave_proxy/__init__.py b/esphome/components/zwave_proxy/__init__.py
index 8adf39d28d..f6b6ead42e 100644
--- a/esphome/components/zwave_proxy/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/zwave_proxy/__init__.py
@@ -23,3 +23,4 @@ async def to_code(config):
     var = cg.new_Pvariable(config[CONF_ID])
     await cg.register_component(var, config)
     await uart.register_uart_device(var, config)
+    cg.add_define("USE_ZWAVE_PROXY")
diff --git a/esphome/components/zwave_proxy/zwave_proxy.cpp b/esphome/components/zwave_proxy/zwave_proxy.cpp
index fe67705407..2e9f266c6b 100644
--- a/esphome/components/zwave_proxy/zwave_proxy.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/zwave_proxy/zwave_proxy.cpp
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ namespace zwave_proxy {
 
 static const char *TAG = "zwave_proxy";
 
+ZWaveProxy::ZWaveProxy() { global_zwave_proxy = this; }
+
 void ZWaveProxy::setup() {
   // Get capabilities command sent once here just to test communication for component development
   uint8_t get_capabilities_cmd[] = {0x01, 0x03, 0x00, 0x07, 0xfb};
@@ -25,19 +27,27 @@ void ZWaveProxy::loop() {
       this->status_set_warning("Failed reading from UART");
       return;
     }
-    this->parse_byte_(byte);
+    if (this->parse_byte_(byte)) {
+      // TODO: send frame to client(s)...
+      ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Frame complete");
+    }
   }
   this->status_clear_warning();
 }
 
 void ZWaveProxy::dump_config() { ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "Z-Wave Proxy"); }
 
-void ZWaveProxy::send_frame(std::vector<uint8_t> &data) {
+void ZWaveProxy::send_frame(const std::string &data) {
+  ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Sending: %s", format_hex_pretty(data).c_str());
+  this->write_array((uint8_t *) data.data(), data.size());
+}
+
+void ZWaveProxy::send_frame(const std::vector<uint8_t> &data) {
   ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Sending: %s", format_hex_pretty(data).c_str());
   this->write_array(data);
 }
 
-void ZWaveProxy::parse_byte_(uint8_t byte) {
+bool ZWaveProxy::parse_byte_(uint8_t byte) {
   // Basic parsing logic for received frames
   switch (this->parsing_state_) {
     case ZWAVE_PARSING_STATE_WAIT_START:
@@ -81,6 +91,7 @@ void ZWaveProxy::parse_byte_(uint8_t byte) {
       } else {
         this->parsing_state_ = ZWAVE_PARSING_STATE_SEND_ACK;
         ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Received frame: %s", format_hex_pretty(this->buffer_, this->buffer_index_).c_str());
+        return true;
       }
       break;
     case ZWAVE_PARSING_STATE_SEND_ACK:
@@ -90,6 +101,7 @@ void ZWaveProxy::parse_byte_(uint8_t byte) {
       ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Received unknown byte: 0x%02X", byte);
       break;
   }
+  return false;
 }
 
 void ZWaveProxy::parse_start_(uint8_t byte) {
@@ -139,5 +151,7 @@ bool ZWaveProxy::response_handler_() {
   return true;
 }
 
+ZWaveProxy *global_zwave_proxy = nullptr;  // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
+
 }  // namespace zwave_proxy
 }  // namespace esphome
diff --git a/esphome/components/zwave_proxy/zwave_proxy.h b/esphome/components/zwave_proxy/zwave_proxy.h
index 0c9f93af95..3c69002890 100644
--- a/esphome/components/zwave_proxy/zwave_proxy.h
+++ b/esphome/components/zwave_proxy/zwave_proxy.h
@@ -25,16 +25,25 @@ enum ZWaveParsingState : uint8_t {
   ZWAVE_PARSING_STATE_SEND_NAK,
 };
 
+enum ZWaveProxyFeature : uint32_t {
+  FEATURE_ZWAVE_PROXY_ENABLED = 1 << 0,
+};
+
 class ZWaveProxy : public uart::UARTDevice, public Component {
  public:
+  ZWaveProxy();
+
   void setup() override;
   void loop() override;
   void dump_config() override;
 
-  void send_frame(std::vector<uint8_t> &data);
+  uint32_t get_feature_flags() const { return ZWaveProxyFeature::FEATURE_ZWAVE_PROXY_ENABLED; }
+
+  void send_frame(const std::string &data);
+  void send_frame(const std::vector<uint8_t> &data);
 
  protected:
-  void parse_byte_(uint8_t byte);
+  bool parse_byte_(uint8_t byte);  // Returns true if frame parsing was completed (a frame is ready in the buffer)
   void parse_start_(uint8_t byte);
   bool response_handler_();
 
@@ -45,5 +54,7 @@ class ZWaveProxy : public uart::UARTDevice, public Component {
   ZWaveParsingState parsing_state_{ZWAVE_PARSING_STATE_WAIT_START};
 };
 
+extern ZWaveProxy *global_zwave_proxy;  // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
+
 }  // namespace zwave_proxy
 }  // namespace esphome
diff --git a/esphome/core/defines.h b/esphome/core/defines.h
index 5df3bcf475..fce92dbf1d 100644
--- a/esphome/core/defines.h
+++ b/esphome/core/defines.h
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@
 #define USE_UART_DEBUGGER
 #define USE_UPDATE
 #define USE_VALVE
+#define USE_ZWAVE_PROXY
 
 // Feature flags which do not work for zephyr
 #ifndef USE_ZEPHYR