Government Website Accessibility Compliance
Government websites must be accessible to all citizens. Federal, state, and local government sites have the strictest legal requirements for web accessibility.
Legal Risk for Government
Government websites have mandatory accessibility requirements under Section 508 (federal) and ADA Title II (state/local). Non-compliance can result in DOJ enforcement actions.
Common Accessibility Issues in Government
Inaccessible PDF documents and forms
Missing alt text on informational images
Complex data tables without proper markup
Inaccessible emergency alert systems
Applicable Regulations
Check Your Government Website Now
Free scan checks 100+ accessibility rules against WCAG 2.2 Level AA. Results in under 30 seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my government website required to be ADA compliant?
Yes. Under ADA Title III, government websites that serve the public are considered places of public accommodation and must be accessible to people with disabilities. Courts have consistently ruled that websites fall under ADA requirements.
What WCAG level should government websites target?
WCAG 2.2 Level AA is the standard referenced by most courts and regulatory bodies for government website accessibility. This covers criteria like text contrast, keyboard navigation, alt text, and form labels.
What happens if my government website isn't accessible?
Non-compliant government websites risk demand letters, lawsuits (averaging $50,000-$150,000 in settlements), DOJ investigations, and loss of customers who cannot use the site. Over 5,100 ADA website lawsuits were filed in 2025 alone.
How do I fix accessibility issues on my government website?
Start with an automated scan to identify machine-detectable issues, then prioritize critical and serious violations. Common fixes include adding alt text to images, ensuring sufficient color contrast, labeling form inputs, and enabling keyboard navigation. CompliaScan provides specific fix suggestions for each issue found.
Government Accessibility by Location
City-specific compliance guides with local lawsuit statistics, state laws, and disability population data.