Making Your Website ADA Compliant

Municipal websites are often the first stop for residents when looking for information or resources from their local governments. Residents rely on them to pay utility bills, access meeting agendas, apply for permits, submit service requests and stay informed about community events. Ensuring that these digital services are accessible to all residents is not only good service—it is a legal requirement. 

In 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a final rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that establishes specific accessibility requirements for state and local government websites and mobile applications. The rule requires municipalities to make digital content accessible to individuals with disabilities by meeting the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines  2.1 Level AA standard. 

The DOJ recently extended the compliance deadlines by one year, but the requirements themselves have not changed.  

• Municipalities serving populations of 50,000 or more must comply by April 26, 2027. 
• Municipalities serving fewer than 50,000 residents must comply by April 26, 2028. 

Why Accessibility Matters

More than one in four adults in the United States lives with a disability. Accessible websites ensure that residents who use screen readers, keyboard navigation, captions, or other assistive technologies can access the same information and services as everyone else. Accessibility improves usability for all users. 

For municipalities, compliance is also about reducing risk. Inaccessible websites can result in ADA complaints, investigations, legal action and costly remediation efforts. Perhaps more importantly, accessibility barriers can prevent residents from accessing essential government services and information. 

Getting Started 

For many municipalities, achieving compliance is overwhelming. The good news is that taking a systematic approach can make the process manageable. 

Consider these first steps: 

1. Inventory your digital assets. Identify all municipal websites, web applications, online forms, PDFs, videos and mobile applications that residents use.
2. Prioritize high-use content. Focus first on the pages and services residents access most frequently, such as payment portals, employment applications, public meeting materials and emergency information.
3. Review documents and linked content. Many accessibility barriers are found in PDFs and other documents posted online. Evaluate whether these files are accessible and whether older content should remain available.
4. Assign ownership. Designate staff members who will oversee accessibility efforts and coordinate compliance across departments.
5. Provide training. Accessibility is not a one-time project. Staff who create website content, upload documents, or manage digital communications should understand accessibility requirements and best practices. 

Resources Available Through the League 

The North Carolina League of Municipalities has developed a dedicated ADA compliance resource webpage to help members understand the requirements and take practical steps toward compliance. The resource page includes understanding ADA website accessibility, helpful first steps, implementation strategies, compliance exceptions, webinars and a comprehensive toolkit that helps municipal employees work through the most common compliance issues seen in municipal websites.  

While the compliance deadlines may seem distant, municipalities that begin planning now will be in a much stronger position to meet the requirements and avoid last-minute challenges. Accessibility is ultimately about ensuring that every resident can fully participate in local government, regardless of ability. 

To access the League's ADA compliance resources and learn more about preparing your municipality for compliance, visit https://www.nclm.org/member-services/ada-digital-compliance/.