diff --git a/CHANGELOG.rst b/CHANGELOG.rst
index fae190eca7..1e8d09b0da 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.rst
+++ b/CHANGELOG.rst
@@ -94,6 +94,9 @@ Changed
 * Refactor tests to use python imports to identify test fixtures. #5699 #5702 #5703 #5704 #5705 #5706
   Contributed by @cognifloyd
 
+* Refactor ``st2-generate-schemas`` so that logic is in an importable module. #5708
+  Contributed by @cognifloyd
+
 Removed
 ~~~~~~~
 
diff --git a/contrib/schemas/sensor.json b/contrib/schemas/sensor.json
index 3622b6d8ee..6193bf521f 100644
--- a/contrib/schemas/sensor.json
+++ b/contrib/schemas/sensor.json
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
         "uid": {
             "type": "string"
         },
-        "name": {
+        "class_name": {
             "type": "string",
             "required": true
         },
diff --git a/st2common/bin/st2-generate-schemas b/st2common/bin/st2-generate-schemas
index 376d1fc5f6..8f5d49dfea 100755
--- a/st2common/bin/st2-generate-schemas
+++ b/st2common/bin/st2-generate-schemas
@@ -17,43 +17,29 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
+"""
+A script that generates st2 metadata (pack, action, rule, ...) schemas.
+`st2-generate-schemas` is used to to update contrib/schemas/*.json.
+
+USAGE: st2-generate-schemas <destination directory>
+"""
+
 from __future__ import absolute_import
 
-import json
 import os
-import six
-
-from st2common.models.api import action as action_models
-from st2common.models.api import pack as pack_models
-from st2common.models.api import policy as policy_models
-from st2common.models.api import rule as rule_models
-from st2common.models.api import sensor as sensor_models
+import sys
 
-content_models = {
-    "pack": pack_models.PackAPI,
-    "action": action_models.ActionAPI,
-    "alias": action_models.ActionAliasAPI,
-    "policy": policy_models.PolicyAPI,
-    "rule": rule_models.RuleAPI,
-    "sensor": sensor_models.SensorTypeAPI,
-}
+from st2common.cmd import generate_schemas
 
 
-def main():
+def init():
     scripts_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
     schemas_dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(scripts_dir, "../../contrib/schemas"))
 
-    for name, model in six.iteritems(content_models):
-        schema_text = json.dumps(model.schema, indent=4)
-        print('Generated schema for the "%s" model.' % name)
-
-        schema_file = os.path.join(schemas_dir, name + ".json")
-        print('Schema will be written to "%s".' % schema_file)
-
-        with open(schema_file, "w") as f:
-            f.write(schema_text)
-            f.write("\n")
+    # set the default for backwards compatibility
+    generate_schemas.default_schemas_dir = schemas_dir
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-    main()
+    init()
+    sys.exit(generate_schemas.main())
diff --git a/st2common/st2common/cmd/generate_schemas.py b/st2common/st2common/cmd/generate_schemas.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..bdb4754383
--- /dev/null
+++ b/st2common/st2common/cmd/generate_schemas.py
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+# Copyright 2021 The StackStorm Authors.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+"""
+A script that generates st2 metadata (pack, action, rule, ...) schemas.
+This is used by `st2-generate-schemas` to update contrib/schemas/*.json.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import absolute_import
+
+import json
+import os
+import sys
+
+from st2common.models.api import action as action_models
+from st2common.models.api import pack as pack_models
+from st2common.models.api import policy as policy_models
+from st2common.models.api import rule as rule_models
+from st2common.models.api import sensor as sensor_models
+
+__all__ = ["generate_schemas", "write_schemas"]
+
+content_models = {
+    "pack": pack_models.PackAPI,
+    "action": action_models.ActionAPI,
+    "alias": action_models.ActionAliasAPI,
+    "policy": policy_models.PolicyAPI,
+    "rule": rule_models.RuleAPI,
+    "sensor": sensor_models.SensorTypeAPI,
+}
+
+
+default_schemas_dir = "."
+
+
+def generate_schemas():
+    for name, model in content_models.items():
+        schema_text = json.dumps(model.schema, indent=4)
+
+        yield name, schema_text
+
+
+def write_schemas(schemas_dir):
+    for name, schema_text in generate_schemas():
+        print('Generated schema for the "%s" model.' % name)
+
+        schema_file = os.path.join(schemas_dir, name + ".json")
+        print('Schema will be written to "%s".' % schema_file)
+
+        with open(schema_file, "w") as f:
+            f.write(schema_text)
+            f.write("\n")
+
+
+def main():
+    argv = sys.argv[1:]
+
+    # 1st positional parameter is the destination directory
+    schemas_dir = argv[0] if argv else default_schemas_dir
+
+    write_schemas(schemas_dir)
+
+    return 0