diff --git a/django/core/checks/database.py b/django/core/checks/database.py
index 5778844fe9..d125f1eaa6 100644
--- a/django/core/checks/database.py
+++ b/django/core/checks/database.py
@@ -4,8 +4,11 @@ from . import Tags, register
 
 
 @register(Tags.database)
-def check_database_backends(*args, **kwargs):
+def check_database_backends(databases=None, **kwargs):
+    if databases is None:
+        return []
     issues = []
-    for conn in connections.all():
+    for alias in databases:
+        conn = connections[alias]
         issues.extend(conn.validation.check(**kwargs))
     return issues
diff --git a/django/core/checks/registry.py b/django/core/checks/registry.py
index 51999bdf95..74359db586 100644
--- a/django/core/checks/registry.py
+++ b/django/core/checks/registry.py
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ class CheckRegistry:
                 tags += (check,)
             return inner
 
-    def run_checks(self, app_configs=None, tags=None, include_deployment_checks=False):
+    def run_checks(self, app_configs=None, tags=None, include_deployment_checks=False, databases=None):
         """
         Run all registered checks and return list of Errors and Warnings.
         """
@@ -63,13 +63,9 @@ class CheckRegistry:
 
         if tags is not None:
             checks = [check for check in checks if not set(check.tags).isdisjoint(tags)]
-        else:
-            # By default, 'database'-tagged checks are not run as they do more
-            # than mere static code analysis.
-            checks = [check for check in checks if Tags.database not in check.tags]
 
         for check in checks:
-            new_errors = check(app_configs=app_configs)
+            new_errors = check(app_configs=app_configs, databases=databases)
             assert is_iterable(new_errors), (
                 "The function %r did not return a list. All functions registered "
                 "with the checks registry must return a list." % check)
diff --git a/django/core/management/base.py b/django/core/management/base.py
index 0376d67662..f92ceb17d8 100644
--- a/django/core/management/base.py
+++ b/django/core/management/base.py
@@ -378,21 +378,20 @@ class BaseCommand:
             self.stdout.write(output)
         return output
 
-    def _run_checks(self, **kwargs):
-        return checks.run_checks(**kwargs)
-
     def check(self, app_configs=None, tags=None, display_num_errors=False,
-              include_deployment_checks=False, fail_level=checks.ERROR):
+              include_deployment_checks=False, fail_level=checks.ERROR,
+              databases=None):
         """
         Use the system check framework to validate entire Django project.
         Raise CommandError for any serious message (error or critical errors).
         If there are only light messages (like warnings), print them to stderr
         and don't raise an exception.
         """
-        all_issues = self._run_checks(
+        all_issues = checks.run_checks(
             app_configs=app_configs,
             tags=tags,
             include_deployment_checks=include_deployment_checks,
+            databases=databases,
         )
 
         header, body, footer = "", "", ""
diff --git a/django/core/management/commands/check.py b/django/core/management/commands/check.py
index b85da64bc7..b05534fc1f 100644
--- a/django/core/management/commands/check.py
+++ b/django/core/management/commands/check.py
@@ -32,6 +32,10 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
                 'non-zero status. Default is ERROR.'
             ),
         )
+        parser.add_argument(
+            '--database', action='append', dest='databases',
+            help='Run database related checks against these aliases.',
+        )
 
     def handle(self, *app_labels, **options):
         include_deployment_checks = options['deploy']
@@ -62,4 +66,5 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
             display_num_errors=True,
             include_deployment_checks=include_deployment_checks,
             fail_level=getattr(checks, options['fail_level']),
+            databases=options['databases'],
         )
diff --git a/django/core/management/commands/migrate.py b/django/core/management/commands/migrate.py
index 5b964c41ae..575ed47993 100644
--- a/django/core/management/commands/migrate.py
+++ b/django/core/management/commands/migrate.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ import time
 from importlib import import_module
 
 from django.apps import apps
-from django.core.checks import Tags, run_checks
 from django.core.management.base import (
     BaseCommand, CommandError, no_translations,
 )
@@ -20,8 +19,13 @@ from django.utils.text import Truncator
 
 class Command(BaseCommand):
     help = "Updates database schema. Manages both apps with migrations and those without."
+    requires_system_checks = False
 
     def add_arguments(self, parser):
+        parser.add_argument(
+            '--skip-checks', action='store_true',
+            help='Skip system checks.',
+        )
         parser.add_argument(
             'app_label', nargs='?',
             help='App label of an application to synchronize the state.',
@@ -59,13 +63,11 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
             help='Creates tables for apps without migrations.',
         )
 
-    def _run_checks(self, **kwargs):
-        issues = run_checks(tags=[Tags.database])
-        issues.extend(super()._run_checks(**kwargs))
-        return issues
-
     @no_translations
     def handle(self, *args, **options):
+        database = options['database']
+        if not options['skip_checks']:
+            self.check(databases=[database])
 
         self.verbosity = options['verbosity']
         self.interactive = options['interactive']
@@ -77,8 +79,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
                 import_module('.management', app_config.name)
 
         # Get the database we're operating from
-        db = options['database']
-        connection = connections[db]
+        connection = connections[database]
 
         # Hook for backends needing any database preparation
         connection.prepare_database()
diff --git a/docs/ref/checks.txt b/docs/ref/checks.txt
index e7b0a5ec8c..99d5fccfaa 100644
--- a/docs/ref/checks.txt
+++ b/docs/ref/checks.txt
@@ -79,7 +79,8 @@ Django's system checks are organized using the following tags:
 * ``database``: Checks database-related configuration issues. Database checks
   are not run by default because they do more than static code analysis as
   regular checks do. They are only run by the :djadmin:`migrate` command or if
-  you specify the ``database`` tag when calling the :djadmin:`check` command.
+  you specify configured database aliases using the ``--database`` option when
+  calling the :djadmin:`check` command.
 * ``models``: Checks of model, field, and manager definitions.
 * ``security``: Checks security related configuration.
 * ``signals``: Checks on signal declarations and handler registrations.
@@ -90,6 +91,11 @@ Django's system checks are organized using the following tags:
 
 Some checks may be registered with multiple tags.
 
+.. versionchanged:: 3.1
+
+    The ``database`` checks are now run only for database aliases specified
+    using the :option:`check --database` option.
+
 Core system checks
 ==================
 
diff --git a/docs/ref/django-admin.txt b/docs/ref/django-admin.txt
index 3f95d8e1ce..a5ef671e26 100644
--- a/docs/ref/django-admin.txt
+++ b/docs/ref/django-admin.txt
@@ -106,6 +106,16 @@ For example, to perform only models and compatibility checks, run::
 
     django-admin check --tag models --tag compatibility
 
+.. django-admin-option:: --database DATABASE
+
+.. versionadded:: 3.1
+
+Specifies the database to run checks requiring database access::
+
+    django-admin check --database default --database other
+
+By default, these checks will not be run.
+
 .. django-admin-option:: --list-tags
 
 Lists all available tags.
diff --git a/docs/releases/3.1.txt b/docs/releases/3.1.txt
index 58fed5080a..fbce69d820 100644
--- a/docs/releases/3.1.txt
+++ b/docs/releases/3.1.txt
@@ -229,7 +229,10 @@ Logging
 Management Commands
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
-* ...
+* The new :option:`check --database` option allows specifying database aliases
+  for running the ``database`` system checks. Previously these checks were
+  enabled for all configured :setting:`DATABASES` by passing the ``database``
+  tag to the command.
 
 Migrations
 ~~~~~~~~~~
@@ -474,6 +477,12 @@ Miscellaneous
   *What's New* :ref:`Security section <whats-new-security-3.1>` above for more
   details.
 
+* :djadmin:`check` management command now runs the ``database`` system checks
+  only for database aliases specified using :option:`check --database` option.
+
+* :djadmin:`migrate` management command now runs the ``database`` system checks
+  only for a database to migrate.
+
 .. _deprecated-features-3.1:
 
 Features deprecated in 3.1
diff --git a/tests/check_framework/test_database.py b/tests/check_framework/test_database.py
index 06baf0e38d..bf291b24a1 100644
--- a/tests/check_framework/test_database.py
+++ b/tests/check_framework/test_database.py
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 import unittest
 from unittest import mock
 
-from django.core.checks import Tags, run_checks
-from django.core.checks.registry import CheckRegistry
+from django.core.checks.database import check_database_backends
 from django.db import connection
 from django.test import TestCase
 
@@ -10,30 +9,12 @@ from django.test import TestCase
 class DatabaseCheckTests(TestCase):
     databases = {'default', 'other'}
 
-    @property
-    def func(self):
-        from django.core.checks.database import check_database_backends
-        return check_database_backends
-
-    def test_database_checks_not_run_by_default(self):
-        """
-        `database` checks are only run when their tag is specified.
-        """
-        def f1(**kwargs):
-            return [5]
-
-        registry = CheckRegistry()
-        registry.register(Tags.database)(f1)
-        errors = registry.run_checks()
-        self.assertEqual(errors, [])
-
-        errors2 = registry.run_checks(tags=[Tags.database])
-        self.assertEqual(errors2, [5])
-
-    def test_database_checks_called(self):
-        with mock.patch('django.db.backends.base.validation.BaseDatabaseValidation.check') as mocked_check:
-            run_checks(tags=[Tags.database])
-            self.assertTrue(mocked_check.called)
+    @mock.patch('django.db.backends.base.validation.BaseDatabaseValidation.check')
+    def test_database_checks_called(self, mocked_check):
+        check_database_backends()
+        self.assertFalse(mocked_check.called)
+        check_database_backends(databases=self.databases)
+        self.assertTrue(mocked_check.called)
 
     @unittest.skipUnless(connection.vendor == 'mysql', 'Test only for MySQL')
     def test_mysql_strict_mode(self):
@@ -47,7 +28,7 @@ class DatabaseCheckTests(TestCase):
                 'django.db.backends.utils.CursorWrapper.fetchone', create=True,
                 return_value=(response,)
             ):
-                self.assertEqual(self.func(None), [])
+                self.assertEqual(check_database_backends(databases=self.databases), [])
 
         bad_sql_modes = ['', 'WHATEVER']
         for response in bad_sql_modes:
@@ -56,6 +37,6 @@ class DatabaseCheckTests(TestCase):
                 return_value=(response,)
             ):
                 # One warning for each database alias
-                result = self.func(None)
+                result = check_database_backends(databases=self.databases)
                 self.assertEqual(len(result), 2)
                 self.assertEqual([r.id for r in result], ['mysql.W002', 'mysql.W002'])
diff --git a/tests/check_framework/tests.py b/tests/check_framework/tests.py
index 061ead9d23..cc1718fac8 100644
--- a/tests/check_framework/tests.py
+++ b/tests/check_framework/tests.py
@@ -160,22 +160,22 @@ class CheckCommandTests(SimpleTestCase):
     @override_system_checks([simple_system_check, tagged_system_check])
     def test_simple_call(self):
         call_command('check')
-        self.assertEqual(simple_system_check.kwargs, {'app_configs': None})
-        self.assertEqual(tagged_system_check.kwargs, {'app_configs': None})
+        self.assertEqual(simple_system_check.kwargs, {'app_configs': None, 'databases': None})
+        self.assertEqual(tagged_system_check.kwargs, {'app_configs': None, 'databases': None})
 
     @override_system_checks([simple_system_check, tagged_system_check])
     def test_given_app(self):
         call_command('check', 'auth', 'admin')
         auth_config = apps.get_app_config('auth')
         admin_config = apps.get_app_config('admin')
-        self.assertEqual(simple_system_check.kwargs, {'app_configs': [auth_config, admin_config]})
-        self.assertEqual(tagged_system_check.kwargs, {'app_configs': [auth_config, admin_config]})
+        self.assertEqual(simple_system_check.kwargs, {'app_configs': [auth_config, admin_config], 'databases': None})
+        self.assertEqual(tagged_system_check.kwargs, {'app_configs': [auth_config, admin_config], 'databases': None})
 
     @override_system_checks([simple_system_check, tagged_system_check])
     def test_given_tag(self):
         call_command('check', tags=['simpletag'])
         self.assertIsNone(simple_system_check.kwargs)
-        self.assertEqual(tagged_system_check.kwargs, {'app_configs': None})
+        self.assertEqual(tagged_system_check.kwargs, {'app_configs': None, 'databases': None})
 
     @override_system_checks([simple_system_check, tagged_system_check])
     def test_invalid_tag(self):