What are the new accessibility requirements for city websites?

Starting April 24, 2026, most state and local government websites and digital content must conform to WCAG 2.1 Level AA technical standards under ADA Title II.

How can cities prepare for the ADA Title II deadline?

Cities should inventory digital assets, assess vendor contracts for accessibility obligations, and conduct independent risk audits to identify gaps and prioritize remediation.

Feb 18 2026

Is Your City Ready for Website Accessibility Requirements?

Q: Which city departments and assets are affected by the new rule?

The rule applies to nearly all digital content, including websites, mobile apps, social media, dashboards, and documents, whether developed internally or by third parties.

Beginning April 24, 2026, most state and local government websites, mobile apps and social media content must comply with new accessibility requirements under Title II of the ADA.

TL;DR

Summary of a National League of Cities article on the April 24, 2026 ADA Title II deadline for state and local governments serving 50,000 or more people, with April 26, 2027 for smaller populations. WCAG 2.1 Level AA applies across websites, mobile apps, social media, dashboards, and documents, including third-party material. Practical starting points are covered: digital asset inventory, vendor contract review, and an independent risk audit before remediation begins.

National League of Cities article: Is Your City Ready for Website Accessibility Requirements?

Beginning April 24, 2026, most state and local government websites, mobile apps and social media content must comply with new accessibility requirements under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. For many cities, this will require coordination across departments, vendors and procurement practices to ensure compliance. This rule will have wide-ranging impacts for many city departments, staff and vendors.

The rule requires all state and local governments to conform to WCAG 2.1, Level AA technical standards for accessibility. It applies to nearly all digital content - including text, images, sound, videos and documents - and extends to content not directly developed by the local government, including mobile apps, dashboards and other site features developed by third parties, and social media posts. The requirements apply from April 24, 2026 for entities serving populations of 50,000 or more, and April 26, 2027 for those serving smaller populations.

Cities should begin by conducting an inventory of their digital assets, including websites, mobile applications, third-party dashboards and social media accounts. Staff should assess vendor contracts to confirm accessibility obligations and identify gaps that may require remediation before the compliance deadline. The Department of Justice has created a First Steps Compliance Guide and a Small Entity Compliance Guide for state and local governments. Early planning will help cities avoid costly last-minute upgrades and reduce legal risk.

NLC: Is Your City Ready for Website Accessibility Requirements

Overall municipal position summary showing financial exposure with risk breakdown charts

Audit findings showing risk by department across Accessibility, Privacy and Environmental categories

Click to view full example report

Risk Audit

Independent evaluation of your digital exposure

Understand where your municipality stands before committing to any program. Our independent risk audit provides clarity on exposure, identifies priorities and establishes a cost baseline for measurable improvement. How much? $4,000 <> $18,000 subject to number of websites (Dept. / Sections).

"Kicking off with independent clarity of your Risk should be a no brainer - Risk mitigation 101, independent understanding of position."