diff --git a/earwigbot/config/permissions.py b/earwigbot/config/permissions.py
index d3f6a30..44a96a4 100644
--- a/earwigbot/config/permissions.py
+++ b/earwigbot/config/permissions.py
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ from threading import Lock
 __all__ = ["PermissionsDB"]
 
 class PermissionsDB(object):
+    ADMIN = 1
+    OWNER = 2
+
     def __init__(self, dbfile):
         self._dbfile = dbfile
         self._db_access_lock = Lock()
@@ -46,6 +49,15 @@ class PermissionsDB(object):
                                        user_rank)"""
         conn.execute(query)
 
+    def _is_rank(self, user, rank):
+        """Return True if the given user has the given rank, else False."""
+        try:
+            for rule in self._data[rank]:
+                if user == rule:
+                    return True
+        except KeyError:
+            return False
+
     def load(self):
         """Load permissions from an existing database, or create a new one."""
         query = "SELECT user_nick, user_ident, user_host, user_rank FROM users"
@@ -60,9 +72,38 @@ class PermissionsDB(object):
             except sqlite.OperationalError:
                 self._create(conn)
 
+    def is_admin(self, nick="*", ident="*", host="*"):
+        """Return ``True`` if the given user is a bot admin, else ``False``."""
+        return self._is_rank(_User(nick, ident, host), rank=self.ADMIN)
+
+    def is_owner(self, nick="*", ident="*", host="*"):
+        """Return ``True`` if the given user is a bot owner, else ``False``."""
+        return self._is_rank(_User(nick, ident, host), rank=self.OWNER)
 
 class _User(object):
+    """A class that represents an IRC user for the purpose of testing rules."""
     def __init__(self, nick, ident, host):
         self.nick = nick
         self.ident = ident
         self.host = host
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        """Return the canonical string representation of the User."""
+        res = "_User(nick={0!r}, ident={1!r}, host={2!r})"
+        return res.format(self.nick, self.ident, self.host)
+
+    def __str__(self):
+        """Return a nice string representation of the User."""
+        return "{0}!{1}@{2}".format(self.nick, self.ident, self.host)
+
+    def __eq__(self, user):
+        if self.nick == user.nick or (self.nick == "*" or user.nick == "*"):
+            if self.ident == user.ident or (self.ident == "*" or
+                                            user.ident == "*"):
+                if self.host == user.host or (self.host == "*" or
+                                              user.host == "*"):
+                    return True
+        return False
+
+    def __ne__(self, user):
+        return not self == user