The deadline for compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act is coming up. By April 26, 2027, all state and local governments with a population of 50,000+ must ensure that all content on their websites and mobile apps meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility standards. Smaller cities and counties have until April 2028 to achieve compliance.
Many municipalities are already reaching out to us for ADA audits and guidance on scoping, timelines, and compliance requirements. So, we put together this guide to answer the most common questions public entities have while providing actionable next steps to help audit, remediate, and maintain ADA compliance.
Does ADA compliance apply to municipalities?
Yes, Title II of the ADA makes compliance applicable for all state and local government agencies and departments, including municipalities, regardless of size.
The rule also applies to web content and mobile applications maintained for state and local governments by third-party vendors.
Examples of state and local government entities that must be ADA compliant include:
- State and local government offices that provide benefits and/or social services
- Public schools, community colleges, and public universities
- State and local police departments
- State and local courts
- State and local elections offices
- Public hospitals and public healthcare clinics
- Public parks and recreation programs
- Public libraries
- Public transit agencies
What is required for Title II ADA compliance in 2027?
Public entities must ensure that all web and mobile content meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility standards.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 provides guidelines to make web content on any device more accessible to people with disabilities, including those with visual, auditory, speech, learning, and cognitive disabilities. The WCAG is comprised of three levels of conformance – A (lowest), AA, and AAA (highest).
What is the deadline for ADA Title II compliance for state and local governments?
The Title II compliance deadlines are:
- April 26, 2027, for state and local governments serving 50,000+ residents
- April 26, 2028, for state and local governments with population less than 50,000 as well as Special District governments
What happens if you don’t comply with the ADA Title II deadline?
Failing to meet Title II requirements can expose public entities to several risks, including:
- Legal risk: Individuals may file ADA complaints with the Department of Justice or pursue legal action. Entities may be fined up to $75,000 for an initial ADA violation and $150,000 for subsequent violations. Data also shows that lawsuits against municipalities have been rising over time.
- Operational disruption: Agencies may be required to remediate accessibility issues under compressed timelines once complaints are filed.
- Reputational impact: Accessibility failures can undermine public trust and confidence in government services.
Does existing content need to be remediated?
In most cases, yes. Public facing web content, documents, and mobile applications used to provide services or information must be accessible.
While the DOJ allows limited exceptions for certain archived or legacy content, the rule suggests that in many circumstances, your public entity would still need to provide the content to a person with a disability who needs it in a format that is accessible to them. PDFs, forms, and documents used to access government services are among the most common sources of ADA non compliance.
How do we know if our government website is compliant?
Conduct a full accessibility audit, which includes:
- Automated scanning tools for common accessibility errors.
- Manual review by experts to catch issues AI tools may miss.
- Testing with real users, including those with disabilities.
Key areas to audit include headings, forms, color contrast, alt text, video captions, navigation, and PDF accessibility.
How do we maintain ADA compliance after remediation?
Because websites change constantly, accessibility is not a one time project. New content, third party updates, and CMS changes can introduce compliance issues after remediation.
Continuous monitoring, staff training on accessibility best practices, and periodic audits help ensure long term compliance.
Action Steps for State & Local Government Agencies
Assess your website and digital services
- Conduct an accessibility audit using automated tools and expert review.
- Prioritize high impact pages such as services, forms, portals, and PDFs.
Develop a remediation plan
- Identify issues, assign responsibility, and set realistic timelines.
- Address critical barriers first—navigation, forms, documents, and key services.
Implement fixes and validate
- Apply remediation using a combination of technical fixes and content updates.
- Test with assistive technologies and real users.
Document compliance efforts
- Maintain records of audits, remediation actions, and monitoring activities.
- Documentation helps demonstrate good faith compliance if questions arise.
Establish ongoing accessibility maintenance
- Monitor new and updated content.
- Schedule periodic audits.
- Train staff on accessibility best practices.
