US Accessibility Standards for Government Websites Come Into Force This Year

The first compliance deadline for US digital accessibility requirements is just three months away. From 24 April 2026, state and local government websites and mobile apps must meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards.

The US Department of Justice published the rule in April 2024 under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. It establishes a clear technical standard for US government digital services for the first time, aligning the United States with accessibility requirements already in place in the UK and EU.

Who Needs to Comply and by When

The rule applies to all US state and local government entities, including state agencies, counties, cities, towns, public schools and public universities.

There are two compliance deadlines. If your organisation serves a population of 50,000 or more, you must comply by 24 April 2026. If you serve a population under 50,000, you have until 26 April 2027.

For public universities, the relevant population is the state’s total population, not the number of enrolled students. If your university is in a state with more than 50,000 residents, you must meet the April 2026 deadline regardless of your institution’s size.

What the Rule Covers

The rule applies to websites, mobile apps, online forms, documents such as PDFs and Word files, videos and online course materials.

US public bodies were previously able to address accessibility issues on request. Under this rule, you must make your digital services accessible before they go live. You’ll need to audit your existing content, fix any barriers and ensure new content meets the standards before you publish it.

The rule also covers third-party content. If you use external software or platforms to deliver services, those tools must meet the accessibility requirements too.

What Is WCAG 2.1 Level AA

WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is developed by the World Wide Web Consortium and serves as the technical standard for accessibility legislation in most countries.

WCAG 2.1 Level AA contains 50 success criteria organised around four principles.

• Perceivable covers how users receive information.
• Operable covers how users interact with content.
• Understandable covers how users comprehend content.
• Robust covers how content works with different technologies.

While WCAG 2.1 Level AA is the standard the US rule specifies, WCAG 2.2 is the most current version. The World Wide Web Consortium published it in October 2023, adding nine success criteria focused on users with cognitive disabilities, users with low vision and mobile device users. If you’re already working towards WCAG 2.1, meeting 2.2 requires minimal additional effort and reduces the likelihood of further remediation work as regulations adopt newer standards.

Digital Accessibility Legislation Around the World

The US rule is one of several accessibility regulations that governments have introduced or strengthened in recent years.

In the UK, public sector organisations have had to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA since 2018 under the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations. The European Accessibility Act came into force in June 2025 and extends accessibility requirements to private sector businesses across all EU member states, covering e-commerce, banking, telecommunications and passenger transport services. Canada, Australia and Japan have also introduced or updated digital accessibility legislation in recent years, all referencing WCAG.

WCAG Level AA has become the recognised international benchmark. If you operate across borders, you can work towards a single standard knowing it satisfies legal requirements in multiple countries. As accessibility regulations expand from public sector to private sector, addressing accessibility now means you’ll be prepared when requirements reach you.

How We Can Help

We build all WordPress websites to WCAG 2.2 AA standards, meeting or exceeding current legal requirements in the UK, EU and US. We also offer accessibility audits if you need to understand where accessibility barriers exist on your website and what changes you need to make.

If you have questions about accessibility requirements or want to discuss accessibility as part of a website project, get in touch.