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ADA Title II web accessibility deadlines for state and local government
Current compliance dates
In April 2024 the Department of Justice published a final rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act requiring state and local government web content and mobile applications to conform to WCAG 2.1 Level AA. On April 20, 2026, DOJ issued an interim final rule extending the compliance dates by approximately one year.
| Entity type | Original date | Current date |
|---|---|---|
| Population 50,000 or more | April 24, 2026 | April 26, 2027 |
| Population under 50,000 | April 26, 2027 | April 26, 2028 |
| Special district governments | April 26, 2027 | April 26, 2028 |
The substantive requirements of the 2024 rule are unchanged. Covered web content and mobile apps must still conform to WCAG 2.1 Level AA by the new dates. DOJ stated it fully anticipates implementing the regulation at the new deadline.
What the rule covers
Title II applies to web content and mobile apps a public entity provides or makes available, including through arrangements with third parties. That reaches web pages, online forms, electronic documents such as PDFs, and multimedia. Limited, narrowly defined exceptions exist, but most active content is covered.
Why the extension is not a reprieve
Two reasons. First, the ADA's underlying effective-communication obligation predates the rule and is already enforceable — private litigation does not wait for a regulatory compliance date. Second, remediation timelines are long. An agency with years of untagged PDF agenda packets and board minutes is looking at a multi-quarter project, and the new dates fall inside the FY 2026–27 and FY 2027–28 budget cycles, not after them.
Separate HHS deadline
Organizations receiving federal funding through the Department of Health and Human Services are subject to a separate HHS rule with its own compliance date. If your agency receives HHS funding, confirm which rule governs your timeline — they are not the same.
Procurement angle
Anchor Ridge supplies accessibility remediation and testing software as a certified California DVBE. For California state departments, a purchase under $250,000 may qualify for the SB/DVBE Option. See accessibility compliance software for what we supply.
Summarized from the Federal Register interim final rule (91 Fed. Reg. 20902) and DOJ guidance. This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm applicability with counsel.
Common questions
What is the ADA Title II web accessibility deadline?
After the DOJ's April 2026 interim final rule, public entities serving a population of 50,000 or more must comply by April 26, 2027. Entities serving fewer than 50,000 and special district governments must comply by April 26, 2028.
What accessibility standard does ADA Title II require?
WCAG 2.1 Level AA, applied to web content and mobile applications the public entity provides or makes available, including through third parties.
Did the DOJ extension change what agencies have to do?
No. Only the compliance dates moved. The substantive WCAG 2.1 Level AA requirement is unchanged, and DOJ stated it anticipates implementing the rule at the new dates.