diff --git a/docs/examples/101/aks/main.json b/docs/examples/101/aks/main.json
index e6b8a6a6717..c8b046a5b74 100644
--- a/docs/examples/101/aks/main.json
+++ b/docs/examples/101/aks/main.json
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@
     }
   },
   "functions": [],
-  "variables": {},
   "resources": [
     {
       "type": "Microsoft.ContainerService/managedClusters",
diff --git a/docs/examples/101/app-config/main.json b/docs/examples/101/app-config/main.json
index 9dc158d7bf4..3d4eec1f54c 100644
--- a/docs/examples/101/app-config/main.json
+++ b/docs/examples/101/app-config/main.json
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@
     }
   },
   "functions": [],
-  "variables": {},
   "resources": [
     {
       "type": "Microsoft.AppConfiguration/configurationStores",
diff --git a/docs/examples/101/container-registry/main.json b/docs/examples/101/container-registry/main.json
index cf338278cf4..58ab9dcba1a 100644
--- a/docs/examples/101/container-registry/main.json
+++ b/docs/examples/101/container-registry/main.json
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@
     }
   },
   "functions": [],
-  "variables": {},
   "resources": [
     {
       "type": "Microsoft.ContainerRegistry/registries",
diff --git a/docs/examples/101/cosmosdb-webapp/main.json b/docs/examples/101/cosmosdb-webapp/main.json
index 72d8e884934..35391c7467f 100644
--- a/docs/examples/101/cosmosdb-webapp/main.json
+++ b/docs/examples/101/cosmosdb-webapp/main.json
@@ -136,6 +136,5 @@
         "[resourceId('Microsoft.Web/sites', variables('websiteName'))]"
       ]
     }
-  ],
-  "outputs": {}
+  ]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/examples/101/databricks-all-in-one-template-for-vnet-injection/main.json b/docs/examples/101/databricks-all-in-one-template-for-vnet-injection/main.json
index bb9f0b6b9d7..b19b400239f 100644
--- a/docs/examples/101/databricks-all-in-one-template-for-vnet-injection/main.json
+++ b/docs/examples/101/databricks-all-in-one-template-for-vnet-injection/main.json
@@ -138,6 +138,5 @@
         "[resourceId('Microsoft.Network/virtualNetworks', parameters('vnetName'))]"
       ]
     }
-  ],
-  "outputs": {}
+  ]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/examples/101/function-app-create/main.json b/docs/examples/101/function-app-create/main.json
index e7cce4aea1e..b7304e6dc86 100644
--- a/docs/examples/101/function-app-create/main.json
+++ b/docs/examples/101/function-app-create/main.json
@@ -275,6 +275,5 @@
         "[resourceId('Microsoft.Web/sites', variables('functionAppName'))]"
       ]
     }
-  ],
-  "outputs": {}
+  ]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/examples/101/key-vault-secret-only/main.json b/docs/examples/101/key-vault-secret-only/main.json
index 62f4b305972..82d3db6cce2 100644
--- a/docs/examples/101/key-vault-secret-only/main.json
+++ b/docs/examples/101/key-vault-secret-only/main.json
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
     }
   },
   "functions": [],
-  "variables": {},
   "resources": [
     {
       "type": "Microsoft.KeyVault/vaults/secrets",
@@ -29,6 +28,5 @@
         "value": "[parameters('secretValue')]"
       }
     }
-  ],
-  "outputs": {}
+  ]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/examples/101/logic-app-create/main.json b/docs/examples/101/logic-app-create/main.json
index 934d4f27aea..1a8a6a0c67f 100644
--- a/docs/examples/101/logic-app-create/main.json
+++ b/docs/examples/101/logic-app-create/main.json
@@ -54,6 +54,5 @@
         }
       }
     }
-  ],
-  "outputs": {}
+  ]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/examples/101/monitor-action-groups/main.json b/docs/examples/101/monitor-action-groups/main.json
index 6475cc7ce82..1b8ce9b0660 100644
--- a/docs/examples/101/monitor-action-groups/main.json
+++ b/docs/examples/101/monitor-action-groups/main.json
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@
     }
   },
   "functions": [],
-  "variables": {},
   "resources": [
     {
       "type": "microsoft.insights/actionGroups",
diff --git a/docs/examples/101/storage-blob-container/main.json b/docs/examples/101/storage-blob-container/main.json
index aefb392c73c..111559db519 100644
--- a/docs/examples/101/storage-blob-container/main.json
+++ b/docs/examples/101/storage-blob-container/main.json
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
     }
   },
   "functions": [],
-  "variables": {},
   "resources": [
     {
       "type": "Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts",
@@ -39,6 +38,5 @@
         "[resourceId('Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts', parameters('storageAccountName'))]"
       ]
     }
-  ],
-  "outputs": {}
+  ]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/examples/101/vnet-two-subnets/main.json b/docs/examples/101/vnet-two-subnets/main.json
index 09452569980..2dd072994c2 100644
--- a/docs/examples/101/vnet-two-subnets/main.json
+++ b/docs/examples/101/vnet-two-subnets/main.json
@@ -57,6 +57,5 @@
         ]
       }
     }
-  ],
-  "outputs": {}
+  ]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/examples/201/decrypt-running-windows-vm-without-aad/main.json b/docs/examples/201/decrypt-running-windows-vm-without-aad/main.json
index ebe09cefad4..6cc71578b2a 100644
--- a/docs/examples/201/decrypt-running-windows-vm-without-aad/main.json
+++ b/docs/examples/201/decrypt-running-windows-vm-without-aad/main.json
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@
     }
   },
   "functions": [],
-  "variables": {},
   "resources": [
     {
       "type": "Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/extensions",
@@ -38,6 +37,5 @@
         }
       }
     }
-  ],
-  "outputs": {}
+  ]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/examples/201/firewall-with-ip-from-prefix/main.json b/docs/examples/201/firewall-with-ip-from-prefix/main.json
index 8dcca859d28..a4e00979245 100644
--- a/docs/examples/201/firewall-with-ip-from-prefix/main.json
+++ b/docs/examples/201/firewall-with-ip-from-prefix/main.json
@@ -130,6 +130,5 @@
         "[resourceId('Microsoft.Network/virtualNetworks', parameters('vnetname'))]"
       ]
     }
-  ],
-  "outputs": {}
+  ]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/examples/201/iot-with-storage/main.json b/docs/examples/201/iot-with-storage/main.json
index 780ffe304e5..b061aa32853 100644
--- a/docs/examples/201/iot-with-storage/main.json
+++ b/docs/examples/201/iot-with-storage/main.json
@@ -128,6 +128,5 @@
         "[resourceId('Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts', variables('storageAccountName'))]"
       ]
     }
-  ],
-  "outputs": {}
+  ]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/examples/201/key-vault-secret-create/main.json b/docs/examples/201/key-vault-secret-create/main.json
index 1a9b0e4714c..f8a2bd4dae7 100644
--- a/docs/examples/201/key-vault-secret-create/main.json
+++ b/docs/examples/201/key-vault-secret-create/main.json
@@ -138,6 +138,5 @@
         "[resourceId('Microsoft.KeyVault/vaults', parameters('keyVaultName'))]"
       ]
     }
-  ],
-  "outputs": {}
+  ]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/examples/201/log-analytics-with-solutions-and-diagnostics/main.json b/docs/examples/201/log-analytics-with-solutions-and-diagnostics/main.json
index d2e972507f9..2e9c2eb65ce 100644
--- a/docs/examples/201/log-analytics-with-solutions-and-diagnostics/main.json
+++ b/docs/examples/201/log-analytics-with-solutions-and-diagnostics/main.json
@@ -139,6 +139,5 @@
         "[resourceId('Microsoft.OperationalInsights/workspaces', parameters('logAnalyticsWorkspaceName'))]"
       ]
     }
-  ],
-  "outputs": {}
+  ]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/examples/201/policy-with-initiative-definition-and-assignment/main.json b/docs/examples/201/policy-with-initiative-definition-and-assignment/main.json
index 6ff1e66396d..6a046537886 100644
--- a/docs/examples/201/policy-with-initiative-definition-and-assignment/main.json
+++ b/docs/examples/201/policy-with-initiative-definition-and-assignment/main.json
@@ -109,6 +109,5 @@
         "[resourceId('Microsoft.Authorization/policySetDefinitions', variables('initiativeDefinitionName'))]"
       ]
     }
-  ],
-  "outputs": {}
+  ]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/examples/201/sql/main.json b/docs/examples/201/sql/main.json
index 3e503505cb5..49b46594571 100644
--- a/docs/examples/201/sql/main.json
+++ b/docs/examples/201/sql/main.json
@@ -68,6 +68,5 @@
         "[resourceId('Microsoft.Sql/servers/databases', split(format('{0}/{1}', variables('sqlServerName'), variables('databaseName')), '/')[0], split(format('{0}/{1}', variables('sqlServerName'), variables('databaseName')), '/')[1])]"
       ]
     }
-  ],
-  "outputs": {}
+  ]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/examples/201/vm-push-cert-windows/main.json b/docs/examples/201/vm-push-cert-windows/main.json
index 801897bbcf7..d034470657b 100644
--- a/docs/examples/201/vm-push-cert-windows/main.json
+++ b/docs/examples/201/vm-push-cert-windows/main.json
@@ -179,6 +179,5 @@
         "[resourceId('Microsoft.Network/networkInterfaces', 'certNic')]"
       ]
     }
-  ],
-  "outputs": {}
+  ]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/examples/201/vm-windows-with-custom-script-extension/main.json b/docs/examples/201/vm-windows-with-custom-script-extension/main.json
index 016c33bf137..24351879674 100644
--- a/docs/examples/201/vm-windows-with-custom-script-extension/main.json
+++ b/docs/examples/201/vm-windows-with-custom-script-extension/main.json
@@ -289,6 +289,5 @@
         "[resourceId('Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines', variables('virtualMachine').name)]"
       ]
     }
-  ],
-  "outputs": {}
+  ]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/examples/201/vnet-peering/main.json b/docs/examples/201/vnet-peering/main.json
index f660b6bce6d..9ca70a46904 100644
--- a/docs/examples/201/vnet-peering/main.json
+++ b/docs/examples/201/vnet-peering/main.json
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@
     }
   },
   "functions": [],
-  "variables": {},
   "resources": [
     {
       "type": "Microsoft.Network/virtualNetworks/virtualNetworkPeerings",
@@ -29,6 +28,5 @@
         }
       }
     }
-  ],
-  "outputs": {}
+  ]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/examples/201/vnet-to-vnet-bgp/main.json b/docs/examples/201/vnet-to-vnet-bgp/main.json
index 3793607baf3..2f02451f4c3 100644
--- a/docs/examples/201/vnet-to-vnet-bgp/main.json
+++ b/docs/examples/201/vnet-to-vnet-bgp/main.json
@@ -239,6 +239,5 @@
         "[resourceId('Microsoft.Network/virtualNetworkGateways', variables('vnet2cfg').gatewayName)]"
       ]
     }
-  ],
-  "outputs": {}
+  ]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/examples/modules/1vm-2nics-2subnets-1vnet/main.json b/docs/examples/modules/1vm-2nics-2subnets-1vnet/main.json
index 6f1b3f13960..cef560c11f0 100644
--- a/docs/examples/modules/1vm-2nics-2subnets-1vnet/main.json
+++ b/docs/examples/modules/1vm-2nics-2subnets-1vnet/main.json
@@ -229,7 +229,6 @@
             }
           },
           "functions": [],
-          "variables": {},
           "resources": [
             {
               "type": "Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines",
@@ -284,8 +283,7 @@
                 }
               }
             }
-          ],
-          "outputs": {}
+          ]
         }
       },
       "dependsOn": [
diff --git a/docs/examples/modules/1vm-2nics-2subnets-1vnet/vm.json b/docs/examples/modules/1vm-2nics-2subnets-1vnet/vm.json
index 7f6b61c9fa3..7b95316233e 100644
--- a/docs/examples/modules/1vm-2nics-2subnets-1vnet/vm.json
+++ b/docs/examples/modules/1vm-2nics-2subnets-1vnet/vm.json
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@
     }
   },
   "functions": [],
-  "variables": {},
   "resources": [
     {
       "type": "Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines",
@@ -84,6 +83,5 @@
         }
       }
     }
-  ],
-  "outputs": {}
+  ]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/examples/modules/basic-publicip/main.json b/docs/examples/modules/basic-publicip/main.json
index 87eea4ef175..466f87dca9b 100644
--- a/docs/examples/modules/basic-publicip/main.json
+++ b/docs/examples/modules/basic-publicip/main.json
@@ -1,81 +1,79 @@
-{
-  "$schema": "https://schema.management.azure.com/schemas/2019-04-01/deploymentTemplate.json#",
-  "contentVersion": "1.0.0.0",
-  "parameters": {
-    "publicIpName": {
-      "type": "string",
-      "defaultValue": "mypublicip"
-    }
-  },
-  "functions": [],
-  "variables": {},
-  "resources": [
-    {
-      "type": "Microsoft.Resources/deployments",
-      "apiVersion": "2019-10-01",
-      "name": "publicIp",
-      "properties": {
-        "expressionEvaluationOptions": {
-          "scope": "inner"
-        },
-        "mode": "Incremental",
-        "parameters": {
-          "publicIpResourceName": {
-            "value": "[parameters('publicIpName')]"
-          },
-          "dynamicAllocation": {
-            "value": true
-          }
-        },
-        "template": {
-          "$schema": "https://schema.management.azure.com/schemas/2019-04-01/deploymentTemplate.json#",
-          "contentVersion": "1.0.0.0",
-          "parameters": {
-            "publicIpResourceName": {
-              "type": "string"
-            },
-            "publicIpDnsLabel": {
-              "type": "string",
-              "defaultValue": "[format('{0}-{1}', parameters('publicIpResourceName'), newGuid())]"
-            },
-            "location": {
-              "type": "string",
-              "defaultValue": "[resourceGroup().location]"
-            },
-            "dynamicAllocation": {
-              "type": "bool"
-            }
-          },
-          "functions": [],
-          "variables": {},
-          "resources": [
-            {
-              "type": "Microsoft.Network/publicIPAddresses",
-              "apiVersion": "2020-06-01",
-              "name": "[parameters('publicIpResourceName')]",
-              "location": "[parameters('location')]",
-              "properties": {
-                "publicIPAllocationMethod": "[if(parameters('dynamicAllocation'), 'Dynamic', 'Static')]",
-                "dnsSettings": {
-                  "domainNameLabel": "[parameters('publicIpDnsLabel')]"
-                }
-              }
-            }
-          ],
-          "outputs": {
-            "ipFqdn": {
-              "type": "string",
-              "value": "[reference(resourceId('Microsoft.Network/publicIPAddresses', parameters('publicIpResourceName'))).dnsSettings.fqdn]"
-            }
-          }
-        }
-      }
-    }
-  ],
-  "outputs": {
-    "ipFqdn": {
-      "type": "string",
-      "value": "[reference(resourceId('Microsoft.Resources/deployments', 'publicIp'), '2019-10-01').outputs.ipFqdn.value]"
-    }
-  }
+{
+  "$schema": "https://schema.management.azure.com/schemas/2019-04-01/deploymentTemplate.json#",
+  "contentVersion": "1.0.0.0",
+  "parameters": {
+    "publicIpName": {
+      "type": "string",
+      "defaultValue": "mypublicip"
+    }
+  },
+  "functions": [],
+  "resources": [
+    {
+      "type": "Microsoft.Resources/deployments",
+      "apiVersion": "2019-10-01",
+      "name": "publicIp",
+      "properties": {
+        "expressionEvaluationOptions": {
+          "scope": "inner"
+        },
+        "mode": "Incremental",
+        "parameters": {
+          "publicIpResourceName": {
+            "value": "[parameters('publicIpName')]"
+          },
+          "dynamicAllocation": {
+            "value": true
+          }
+        },
+        "template": {
+          "$schema": "https://schema.management.azure.com/schemas/2019-04-01/deploymentTemplate.json#",
+          "contentVersion": "1.0.0.0",
+          "parameters": {
+            "publicIpResourceName": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "publicIpDnsLabel": {
+              "type": "string",
+              "defaultValue": "[format('{0}-{1}', parameters('publicIpResourceName'), newGuid())]"
+            },
+            "location": {
+              "type": "string",
+              "defaultValue": "[resourceGroup().location]"
+            },
+            "dynamicAllocation": {
+              "type": "bool"
+            }
+          },
+          "functions": [],
+          "resources": [
+            {
+              "type": "Microsoft.Network/publicIPAddresses",
+              "apiVersion": "2020-06-01",
+              "name": "[parameters('publicIpResourceName')]",
+              "location": "[parameters('location')]",
+              "properties": {
+                "publicIPAllocationMethod": "[if(parameters('dynamicAllocation'), 'Dynamic', 'Static')]",
+                "dnsSettings": {
+                  "domainNameLabel": "[parameters('publicIpDnsLabel')]"
+                }
+              }
+            }
+          ],
+          "outputs": {
+            "ipFqdn": {
+              "type": "string",
+              "value": "[reference(resourceId('Microsoft.Network/publicIPAddresses', parameters('publicIpResourceName'))).dnsSettings.fqdn]"
+            }
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  ],
+  "outputs": {
+    "ipFqdn": {
+      "type": "string",
+      "value": "[reference(resourceId('Microsoft.Resources/deployments', 'publicIp'), '2019-10-01').outputs.ipFqdn.value]"
+    }
+  }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/examples/modules/basic-publicip/publicIpAddress.json b/docs/examples/modules/basic-publicip/publicIpAddress.json
index 62090f4ace7..1b2aa69263f 100644
--- a/docs/examples/modules/basic-publicip/publicIpAddress.json
+++ b/docs/examples/modules/basic-publicip/publicIpAddress.json
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
     }
   },
   "functions": [],
-  "variables": {},
   "resources": [
     {
       "type": "Microsoft.Network/publicIPAddresses",
diff --git a/docs/examples/not-working-yet/301-nested-vms-in-virtual-network/main.json b/docs/examples/not-working-yet/301-nested-vms-in-virtual-network/main.json
index bfd469e042e..892c7c91c07 100644
--- a/docs/examples/not-working-yet/301-nested-vms-in-virtual-network/main.json
+++ b/docs/examples/not-working-yet/301-nested-vms-in-virtual-network/main.json
@@ -400,6 +400,5 @@
         "[resourceId('Microsoft.Network/networkInterfaces', parameters('HostNetworkInterface2Name'))]"
       ]
     }
-  ],
-  "outputs": {}
+  ]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Bicep.Core.Samples/Files/AKS_LF/main.json b/src/Bicep.Core.Samples/Files/AKS_LF/main.json
index 8aa8a981dfe..9cba2cae593 100644
--- a/src/Bicep.Core.Samples/Files/AKS_LF/main.json
+++ b/src/Bicep.Core.Samples/Files/AKS_LF/main.json
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@
     }
   },
   "functions": [],
-  "variables": {},
   "resources": [
     {
       "type": "Microsoft.ContainerService/managedClusters",
@@ -77,6 +76,5 @@
         }
       }
     }
-  ],
-  "outputs": {}
+  ]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Bicep.Core.Samples/Files/Empty/main.json b/src/Bicep.Core.Samples/Files/Empty/main.json
index 0f79e407ac3..fcb4c0407db 100644
--- a/src/Bicep.Core.Samples/Files/Empty/main.json
+++ b/src/Bicep.Core.Samples/Files/Empty/main.json
@@ -1,9 +1,6 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://schema.management.azure.com/schemas/2019-04-01/deploymentTemplate.json#",
   "contentVersion": "1.0.0.0",
-  "parameters": {},
   "functions": [],
-  "variables": {},
-  "resources": [],
-  "outputs": {}
+  "resources": []
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Bicep.Core.Samples/Files/Modules_CRLF/main.json b/src/Bicep.Core.Samples/Files/Modules_CRLF/main.json
index 61d418174fa..2b104f84d45 100644
--- a/src/Bicep.Core.Samples/Files/Modules_CRLF/main.json
+++ b/src/Bicep.Core.Samples/Files/Modules_CRLF/main.json
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://schema.management.azure.com/schemas/2019-04-01/deploymentTemplate.json#",
   "contentVersion": "1.0.0.0",
-  "parameters": {},
   "functions": [],
-  "variables": {},
   "resources": [
     {
       "type": "Mock.Rp/mockResource",
@@ -64,7 +62,6 @@
             }
           },
           "functions": [],
-          "variables": {},
           "resources": [
             {
               "type": "Mock.Rp/mockResource",
@@ -126,7 +123,6 @@
             }
           },
           "functions": [],
-          "variables": {},
           "resources": [
             {
               "type": "Mock.Rp/mockResource",
@@ -181,7 +177,6 @@
             }
           },
           "functions": [],
-          "variables": {},
           "resources": [],
           "outputs": {
             "outputObj": {
@@ -235,7 +230,6 @@
             }
           },
           "functions": [],
-          "variables": {},
           "resources": [],
           "outputs": {
             "outputObj": {
@@ -302,7 +296,6 @@
             }
           },
           "functions": [],
-          "variables": {},
           "resources": [],
           "outputs": {
             "outputObj": {
diff --git a/src/Bicep.Core.Samples/Files/Outputs_CRLF/main.json b/src/Bicep.Core.Samples/Files/Outputs_CRLF/main.json
index 684faf2312e..a7fa209d296 100644
--- a/src/Bicep.Core.Samples/Files/Outputs_CRLF/main.json
+++ b/src/Bicep.Core.Samples/Files/Outputs_CRLF/main.json
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://schema.management.azure.com/schemas/2019-04-01/deploymentTemplate.json#",
   "contentVersion": "1.0.0.0",
-  "parameters": {},
   "functions": [],
-  "variables": {},
   "resources": [],
   "outputs": {
     "myStr": {
diff --git a/src/Bicep.Core.Samples/Files/Parameters_CRLF/main.json b/src/Bicep.Core.Samples/Files/Parameters_CRLF/main.json
index 0a0d9b1532f..3cf69295f03 100644
--- a/src/Bicep.Core.Samples/Files/Parameters_CRLF/main.json
+++ b/src/Bicep.Core.Samples/Files/Parameters_CRLF/main.json
@@ -159,7 +159,5 @@
     }
   },
   "functions": [],
-  "variables": {},
-  "resources": [],
-  "outputs": {}
+  "resources": []
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Bicep.Core.Samples/Files/Parameters_LF/main.json b/src/Bicep.Core.Samples/Files/Parameters_LF/main.json
index 43cf71108f0..3e7e2f3457d 100644
--- a/src/Bicep.Core.Samples/Files/Parameters_LF/main.json
+++ b/src/Bicep.Core.Samples/Files/Parameters_LF/main.json
@@ -157,7 +157,5 @@
     }
   },
   "functions": [],
-  "variables": {},
-  "resources": [],
-  "outputs": {}
+  "resources": []
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Bicep.Core.Samples/Files/Variables_LF/main.json b/src/Bicep.Core.Samples/Files/Variables_LF/main.json
index 011bf4f7024..e691e0f7003 100644
--- a/src/Bicep.Core.Samples/Files/Variables_LF/main.json
+++ b/src/Bicep.Core.Samples/Files/Variables_LF/main.json
@@ -155,6 +155,5 @@
     "isFalse": "[not(variables('isTrue'))]",
     "someText": "[if(variables('isTrue'), concat('a', concat('b', 'c')), 'someText')]"
   },
-  "resources": [],
-  "outputs": {}
+  "resources": []
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Bicep.Core/Emit/EmitterContext.cs b/src/Bicep.Core/Emit/EmitterContext.cs
index 9827ef7c206..e6358f7c4aa 100644
--- a/src/Bicep.Core/Emit/EmitterContext.cs
+++ b/src/Bicep.Core/Emit/EmitterContext.cs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ public EmitterContext(SemanticModel.SemanticModel semanticModel)
 
         public SemanticModel.SemanticModel SemanticModel { get; }
 
-        public ImmutableArray<VariableSymbol> VariablesToInline { get; }
+        public ImmutableHashSet<VariableSymbol> VariablesToInline { get; }
 
         public ImmutableDictionary<DeclaredSymbol, ImmutableHashSet<DeclaredSymbol>> ResourceDependencies { get; }
     }
diff --git a/src/Bicep.Core/Emit/InlineDependencyVisitor.cs b/src/Bicep.Core/Emit/InlineDependencyVisitor.cs
index 4bff905f3f3..73d966bb0d3 100644
--- a/src/Bicep.Core/Emit/InlineDependencyVisitor.cs
+++ b/src/Bicep.Core/Emit/InlineDependencyVisitor.cs
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ public class InlineDependencyVisitor : SyntaxVisitor
         private IDictionary<VariableSymbol, bool> shouldInlineCache;
         private VariableSymbol? currentDeclaration;
 
-        public static ImmutableArray<VariableSymbol> GetVariablesToInline(SemanticModel.SemanticModel model)
+        public static ImmutableHashSet<VariableSymbol> GetVariablesToInline(SemanticModel.SemanticModel model)
         {
             var visitor = new InlineDependencyVisitor(model);
             visitor.Visit(model.Root.Syntax);
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ public static ImmutableArray<VariableSymbol> GetVariablesToInline(SemanticModel.
             return visitor.shouldInlineCache
                 .Where(kvp => kvp.Value)
                 .Select(kvp => kvp.Key)
-                .ToImmutableArray();
+                .ToImmutableHashSet();
         }
 
         private InlineDependencyVisitor(SemanticModel.SemanticModel model)
diff --git a/src/Bicep.Core/Emit/TemplateWriter.cs b/src/Bicep.Core/Emit/TemplateWriter.cs
index f7d3430b2a3..9b149573174 100644
--- a/src/Bicep.Core/Emit/TemplateWriter.cs
+++ b/src/Bicep.Core/Emit/TemplateWriter.cs
@@ -53,27 +53,29 @@ public void Write()
 
             this.emitter.EmitProperty("contentVersion", "1.0.0.0");
 
-            writer.WritePropertyName("parameters");
-            this.EmitParameters();
-            
+            this.EmitParametersIfPresent();
+
             writer.WritePropertyName("functions");
             writer.WriteStartArray();
             writer.WriteEndArray();
 
-            writer.WritePropertyName("variables");
-            this.EmitVariables();
+            this.EmitVariablesIfPresent();
 
-            writer.WritePropertyName("resources");
-            this.EmitResources();
-
-            writer.WritePropertyName("outputs");
-            this.EmitOutputs();
+            this.EmitResources();
+
+            this.EmitOutputsIfPresent();
 
             writer.WriteEndObject();
-        }
-
-        private void EmitParameters()
+        }
+
+        private void EmitParametersIfPresent()
         {
+            if (this.context.SemanticModel.Root.ParameterDeclarations.Length == 0)
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            writer.WritePropertyName("parameters");
             writer.WriteStartObject();
 
             foreach (var parameterSymbol in this.context.SemanticModel.Root.ParameterDeclarations)
@@ -132,8 +134,14 @@ private void EmitParameter(ParameterSymbol parameterSymbol)
             writer.WriteEndObject();
         }
 
-        private void EmitVariables()
+        private void EmitVariablesIfPresent()
         {
+            if (!this.context.SemanticModel.Root.VariableDeclarations.Any(symbol => !this.context.VariablesToInline.Contains(symbol)))
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            writer.WritePropertyName("variables");
             writer.WriteStartObject();
 
             foreach (var variableSymbol in this.context.SemanticModel.Root.VariableDeclarations)
@@ -155,7 +163,8 @@ private void EmitVariable(VariableSymbol variableSymbol)
         }
 
         private void EmitResources()
-        {
+        {
+            writer.WritePropertyName("resources");
             writer.WriteStartArray();
 
             foreach (var resourceSymbol in this.context.SemanticModel.Root.ResourceDeclarations)
@@ -298,8 +307,14 @@ private void EmitDependsOn(DeclaredSymbol declaredSymbol)
             writer.WriteEndArray();
         }
 
-        private void EmitOutputs()
-        {
+        private void EmitOutputsIfPresent()
+        {
+            if (this.context.SemanticModel.Root.OutputDeclarations.Length == 0)
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            writer.WritePropertyName("outputs");
             writer.WriteStartObject();
 
             foreach (var outputSymbol in this.context.SemanticModel.Root.OutputDeclarations)