diff --git a/canvas_modules/common-canvas/__tests__/common-properties/properties-controller-test.js b/canvas_modules/common-canvas/__tests__/common-properties/properties-controller-test.js
index f6abedbd7f..26cce5729e 100644
--- a/canvas_modules/common-canvas/__tests__/common-properties/properties-controller-test.js
+++ b/canvas_modules/common-canvas/__tests__/common-properties/properties-controller-test.js
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import datasetMetadata from "../test_resources/json/datasetMetadata.json";
 import structureListEditorParamDef from "../test_resources/paramDefs/structurelisteditor_paramDef.json";
 import structureTableParamDef from "../test_resources/paramDefs/structuretable_paramDef.json";
 import checkboxsetParamDef from "../test_resources/paramDefs/checkboxset_paramDef.json";
+import checkboxParamDef from "../test_resources/paramDefs/checkbox_paramDef.json";
 import actionParamDef from "../test_resources/paramDefs/action_paramDef.json";
 import numberfieldParamDef from "../test_resources/paramDefs/numberfield_paramDef.json";
 import structuretablePropertyValues from "../test_resources/json/structuretable_propertyValues.json";
@@ -1193,6 +1194,24 @@ describe("Properties Controller handlers", () => {
 		const actual = controller.getPropertyValues();
 		expect(actual).to.eql(values);
 	});
+	it("should set default values when setPropertyValues() is called with option { setDefaultValues: true }", () => {
+		const renderedObject = testUtils.flyoutEditorForm(checkboxParamDef);
+		controller = renderedObject.controller;
+
+		const filteredValues = controller.getPropertyValues({ filterHiddenDisabled: true });
+		// We filtered hidden and disabled properties, so "checkbox_hidden" property doesn't exist in filteredValues
+		expect(filteredValues).not.to.have.property("checkbox_hidden");
+
+		// setDefaultValues is not set
+		controller.setPropertyValues(filteredValues);
+		// Verify value is not set for checkbox_hidden
+		expect(controller.getPropertyValues()).not.to.have.property("checkbox_hidden");
+
+		// setDefaultValues is set to true
+		controller.setPropertyValues(filteredValues, { setDefaultValues: true });
+		// Verify a value is set for checkbox_hidden
+		expect(controller.getPropertyValues()).to.have.property("checkbox_hidden", true);
+	});
 	it("should fire event on updatePropertyValue", () => {
 		controller.updatePropertyValue({ name: "param_int" }, 10);
 		expect(propertyListener).to.have.property("callCount", 1);
diff --git a/canvas_modules/common-canvas/__tests__/test_resources/paramDefs/checkbox_paramDef.json b/canvas_modules/common-canvas/__tests__/test_resources/paramDefs/checkbox_paramDef.json
index 658a8d823c..65eef1b808 100644
--- a/canvas_modules/common-canvas/__tests__/test_resources/paramDefs/checkbox_paramDef.json
+++ b/canvas_modules/common-canvas/__tests__/test_resources/paramDefs/checkbox_paramDef.json
@@ -16,8 +16,7 @@
     "checkbox_error": false,
     "checkbox_warning": false,
     "disable": true,
-    "hide": true,
-    "checkbox_hidden": false
+    "hide": true
   },
   "parameters": [
     {
@@ -69,7 +68,8 @@
     {
       "id": "checkbox_hidden",
       "type": "boolean",
-      "required": true
+      "required": true,
+      "default": true
     }
   ],
   "complex_types": [
diff --git a/canvas_modules/common-canvas/src/common-properties/properties-controller.js b/canvas_modules/common-canvas/src/common-properties/properties-controller.js
index 121d0f5913..981c62dc8a 100644
--- a/canvas_modules/common-canvas/src/common-properties/properties-controller.js
+++ b/canvas_modules/common-canvas/src/common-properties/properties-controller.js
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ export default class PropertiesController {
 			}
 			// Set the opening dataset(s), during which multiples are flattened and compound names generated if necessary
 			this.setDatasetMetadata(datasetMetadata);
-			this.setPropertyValues(propertyValues, true); // needs to be after setDatasetMetadata to run conditions
+			this.setPropertyValues(propertyValues, { isInitProps: true }); // needs to be after setDatasetMetadata to run conditions
 			this.differentProperties = [];
 			if (sameParameterDefRendered) {
 				// When a parameterDef is dynamically updated, set difference between old and new controls
@@ -1207,7 +1207,12 @@ export default class PropertiesController {
 		return returnValues;
 	}
 
-	setPropertyValues(values, isInitProps) {
+	/*
+	* options - optional object of config options where
+	*   setDefaultValues: true - set default values from parameter definition
+	*   isInitProps: true - Function is called during initial load. This is only used internally in setForm().
+	*/
+	setPropertyValues(values, options) {
 		let inValues = cloneDeep(values);
 
 		// convert currentParameters of type:object to array values
@@ -1229,7 +1234,7 @@ export default class PropertiesController {
 
 		this.propertiesStore.setPropertyValues(inValues);
 
-		if (isInitProps) {
+		if (options && options.isInitProps) {
 			// Evaluate conditional defaults based on current_parameters upon loading of view
 			// For a given parameter_ref, if multiple conditions evaluate to true only the first one is used.
 			const conditionalDefaultValues = {};
@@ -1264,6 +1269,10 @@ export default class PropertiesController {
 				}
 			);
 		}
+
+		if (options && options.setDefaultValues) {
+			this._addToControlValues(true);
+		}
 	}
 
 	/**
diff --git a/canvas_modules/harness/test_resources/parameterDefs/checkbox_paramDef.json b/canvas_modules/harness/test_resources/parameterDefs/checkbox_paramDef.json
index 658a8d823c..65eef1b808 100644
--- a/canvas_modules/harness/test_resources/parameterDefs/checkbox_paramDef.json
+++ b/canvas_modules/harness/test_resources/parameterDefs/checkbox_paramDef.json
@@ -16,8 +16,7 @@
     "checkbox_error": false,
     "checkbox_warning": false,
     "disable": true,
-    "hide": true,
-    "checkbox_hidden": false
+    "hide": true
   },
   "parameters": [
     {
@@ -69,7 +68,8 @@
     {
       "id": "checkbox_hidden",
       "type": "boolean",
-      "required": true
+      "required": true,
+      "default": true
     }
   ],
   "complex_types": [