ADA Website Compliance
We’re committed to bringing members resources and information relating to the American with Disabilities Act and its impact on the production of municipal content available to the public on digital platforms.
The League’s General Counsel has prepared a memo to city attorneys regarding the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) recent rule updating the Title II regulations under the ADA. This rule adopts the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA as the enforceable technical standard for the accessibility of web content and mobile applications maintained by state and local governments. Read the Memo
The DOJ Fact Sheet is a key resource that highlights the rule’s requirements for state and local governments to make their web content and mobile apps accessible.
DOJ Extends Website Accessibility Compliance Deadlines for Local Governments
On April 17, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued an interim final rule extending website accessibility compliance deadlines for local governments by one year.
The new deadlines are April 26, 2027, for county and municipal governments with populations of 50,000 and above, and April 26, 2028, for special districts and county and municipal governments with populations below 50,000.
The Department cited concerns about staffing and technology capacity, noting the extension will provide greater predictability as governments work toward compliance and improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
Please prioritize your digital accessibility planning and remediation now to ensure you meet the applicable compliance deadline and avoid accessibility gaps or enforcement risk.
Resources
- Federal Register: Extension of Compliance Dates for Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability; Accessibility of Web Information and Services of State and Local Government Entities
- Press Release: NLC Responds to U.S. DOJ’s Decision to Extend Compliance Deadline of Website
- ADA Title II Web Compliance In Plain English Presentation by Kris Rivenburgh for the FLGISA 2026 Winter Institute
- Userway.org
- 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) Requires video programming that is closed captioned on TV to be closed captioned when distributed on the Internet (does not cover programs shown only on the Internet).
- Federal guidelines for Federal Agencies: 21st Century IDEA Act Excellent resource for testing accessibility and web tools. (See page on creating accessible video, audio, and social media)
- Section508.gov
- Bureau of Internet Accessibility
- Closed Captioning for YouTube Live Streaming
The League has also received questions regarding what, specifically, is required to be on a municipal website. Click here for a helpful resource regarding Florida municipal website requirements.