diff --git a/src/fastapi_cli/cli.py b/src/fastapi_cli/cli.py
index c983b5c..697903c 100644
--- a/src/fastapi_cli/cli.py
+++ b/src/fastapi_cli/cli.py
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ def _run(
     command: str,
     app: Union[str, None] = None,
     proxy_headers: bool = False,
+    reload_dirs: Union[str, None] = None,
 ) -> None:
     with get_rich_toolkit() as toolkit:
         server_type = "development" if command == "dev" else "production"
@@ -167,6 +168,7 @@ def _run(
             workers=workers,
             root_path=root_path,
             proxy_headers=proxy_headers,
+            reload_dirs=reload_dirs.split(",") if reload_dirs else None,
             log_config=get_uvicorn_log_config(),
         )
 
@@ -216,6 +218,12 @@ def dev(
             help="Enable/Disable X-Forwarded-Proto, X-Forwarded-For, X-Forwarded-Port to populate remote address info."
         ),
     ] = True,
+    reload_dirs: Annotated[
+        Union[str, None],
+        typer.Option(
+            help="Comma separated list of directories to watch for changes in. If not provided, by default the whole current directory will be watched."
+        ),
+    ] = None,
 ) -> Any:
     """
     Run a [bold]FastAPI[/bold] app in [yellow]development[/yellow] mode. 🧪
@@ -251,6 +259,7 @@ def dev(
         app=app,
         command="dev",
         proxy_headers=proxy_headers,
+        reload_dirs=reload_dirs,
     )
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_cli.py b/tests/test_cli.py
index 8bdba1c..76b40a2 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ def test_dev() -> None:
                 "workers": None,
                 "root_path": "",
                 "proxy_headers": True,
+                "reload_dirs": None,
                 "log_config": get_uvicorn_log_config(),
             }
         assert "Using import string: single_file_app:app" in result.output
@@ -59,6 +60,7 @@ def test_dev_package() -> None:
                 "workers": None,
                 "root_path": "",
                 "proxy_headers": True,
+                "reload_dirs": None,
                 "log_config": get_uvicorn_log_config(),
             }
         assert "Using import string: nested_package.package:app" in result.output
@@ -94,6 +96,8 @@ def test_dev_args() -> None:
                     "--app",
                     "api",
                     "--no-proxy-headers",
+                    "--reload-dirs",
+                    "api,config",
                 ],
             )
             assert result.exit_code == 0, result.output
@@ -107,6 +111,10 @@ def test_dev_args() -> None:
                 "workers": None,
                 "root_path": "/api",
                 "proxy_headers": False,
+                "reload_dirs": [
+                    "api",
+                    "config",
+                ],
                 "log_config": get_uvicorn_log_config(),
             }
         assert "Using import string: single_file_app:api" in result.output
@@ -134,6 +142,7 @@ def test_run() -> None:
                 "workers": None,
                 "root_path": "",
                 "proxy_headers": True,
+                "reload_dirs": None,
                 "log_config": get_uvicorn_log_config(),
             }
         assert "Using import string: single_file_app:app" in result.output
@@ -179,6 +188,7 @@ def test_run_args() -> None:
                 "workers": 2,
                 "root_path": "/api",
                 "proxy_headers": False,
+                "reload_dirs": None,
                 "log_config": get_uvicorn_log_config(),
             }
 
@@ -218,6 +228,7 @@ def test_dev_help() -> None:
     assert "The root path is used to tell your app" in result.output
     assert "The name of the variable that contains the FastAPI app" in result.output
     assert "Use multiple worker processes." not in result.output
+    assert "directories to watch for changes in." in result.output
 
 
 def test_run_help() -> None:
@@ -239,6 +250,7 @@ def test_run_help() -> None:
     assert "The root path is used to tell your app" in result.output
     assert "The name of the variable that contains the FastAPI app" in result.output
     assert "Use multiple worker processes." in result.output
+    assert "directories to watch for changes in." not in result.output
 
 
 def test_callback_help() -> None: