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Government Website Review

For cities, counties, towns, and special districts

The ADA Title II website rule, in plain terms

The U.S. Department of Justice requires state and local government websites and mobile apps to be accessible to people with disabilities, measured against WCAG 2.1 Level AA. Here's what that means for your government, and where to start.

The deadlines

If your government serves…Comply by
50,000 people or moreApril 26, 2027
Fewer than 50,000 people, or any special districtApril 26, 2028

These are the dates after the Department of Justice's one-year extension of April 20, 2026. The extension moved the dates only; the requirement is unchanged.

What to fix first

The most common gaps on local government sites, and each one is something your staff can start on:

  1. Describe every image. Add short alt text so screen readers can say what a photo shows.
  2. Make text readable. Enough contrast between text and background, and text that can be enlarged without breaking the page.
  3. Use real headings and links. “Agendas,” not “Click here.” Headings in order, so the page can be navigated by keyboard and screen reader.
  4. Everything works with a keyboard. Menus, forms, and buttons must be reachable without a mouse.
  5. Forms have labels. Every box says what goes in it, and errors say how to fix them.
  6. Documents count too. Agendas and notices posted as scanned PDFs are hard or impossible to read with assistive technology. Post the text, or accessible PDFs.

See where your site stands

The free review checks your site for common gaps, like images without descriptions, along with whether it's current and works on phones. It isn't a full WCAG audit, but it's a fast, free place to start.

Review my website free

Questions

Does the ADA Title II web rule apply to our city or county?
Yes, if you are a state or local government. The rule covers the websites and mobile apps that state and local governments provide or make available, including special district governments.
What is the deadline?
Under the Department of Justice's April 20, 2026 extension: April 26, 2027 for governments serving 50,000 or more people, and April 26, 2028 for governments serving fewer than 50,000 and for all special district governments.
What standard do we have to meet?
WCAG 2.1 Level AA, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines published by the W3C.
Did the extension change what's required?
No. It moved the dates only. The requirement itself, and the general duty under the ADA not to discriminate, still apply.
Where can we read the rule?
The extension is in the Federal Register (document 2026-07663, April 20, 2026). The Department of Justice explains the rule at ADA.gov.

Sources

This page is general information, not legal advice. Your attorney decides what the law requires of your government.