In April 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) finalized long-awaited rules under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), establishing detailed digital accessibility requirements for public entities. These new rules require websites and mobile applications operated by state and local governments to comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA. Depending on population size, public entities are required to comply by either April 24, 2026, or April 26, 2027.
For many small and rural local government entities, these rules represent both a significant step toward digital inclusion and a major operational challenge. Limited budgets, outdated technology, and lack of technical expertise are just a few of the hurdles. Yet delaying action could result in legal consequences, loss of public trust, and, ultimately, higher costs.
This blog examines what smaller jurisdictions need to know and what they can do now to achieve compliance.
Why Accessibility Matters in Local Government
Web accessibility is a crucial component of delivering effective public services. When digital tools aren’t designed with all users in mind, people with disabilities are often excluded from full participation in civic life. These barriers are real and recurring: a blind resident may miss emergency updates if images on a webpage lack alternative text. A person who navigates with a keyboard could struggle to complete an online permit application. A Deaf or hard-of-hearing community member may be unable to follow a live-streamed meeting without captions. These aren’t isolated inconveniences; they represent systemic barriers to accessing essential government services. These gaps reduce civic participation and compromise public safety.
Making public websites accessible improves usability across the board. Interfaces become easier to navigate, mobile usability improves, and content becomes more transparent and more effective. Accessibility goes beyond legal compliance; it plays a vital role in building inclusive and responsive government services.
Who Needs to Comply?
The DOJ’s updated Title II rule applies broadly to state and local governments, including many smaller and special-purpose entities that may not immediately realize they fall under its scope. Any public entity that provides services, programs, or activities to the public—whether directly or through contractors—must ensure its websites and mobile apps are accessible.
Some examples of public entities that need to comply include:
- Towns, villages, counties, and tribal governments acting as public entities
- Mayor’s offices and their departments
- Public school districts, charter schools, and education service agencies
- Emergency services, including fire (volunteer or professional), EMS, police, and 911 centers
- Public libraries, museums, and cultural institutions under local jurisdiction
- Housing authorities, parks and recreation departments, and city-run community centers
- Local transportation agencies and public health departments
- Election boards, local courts, zoning departments, and public clerks
If your agency serves the public and operates a website or app, you are almost certainly included.
When Do You Need to Comply?
There are two compliance deadlines based on the population you serve:
- April 24, 2026 – Entities serving 50,000 or more people
- April 26, 2027 – Entities serving fewer than 50,000 and all special districts
To determine your deadline, check the 2020 U.S. Census population count for your jurisdiction. For independent school districts, refer to the 2022 Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE). If your office is part of a larger jurisdiction, such as a department within a county, use the population of the larger entity. All special-purpose districts—such as water, flood control, and fire protection—are included in the 2027 category regardless of population.
Having more time doesn’t necessarily mean you should wait. Jurisdictions that delay may find themselves scrambling to comply as the deadline approaches. Getting started now allows agencies to budget strategically, train staff, and plan for sustainable improvements.
The Five Biggest Challenges for Smaller Governments
Many smaller entities face common challenges that can make compliance feel overwhelming. Fortunately, each of these challenges can be addressed with careful planning and incremental progress.
1. Budget and Staffing Limitations
Smaller towns and districts often operate with minimal staff and tight budgets. In many instances, there is no dedicated IT personnel—only a clerk, administrator, or contractor managing the website. A 2024 CivicPulse survey revealed that 42% of local officials identified a lack of staff time, and 35% pointed to limited funding as a significant obstacle to digital accessibility.
For small towns, accessibility often has to fight for attention alongside road repairs and day-to-day operations. It’s tough, but it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. However, delaying accessibility initiatives could result in higher costs down the line, manifesting as lawsuits, costly emergency remediation, or service disruptions. By distributing work across multiple budget cycles and pursuing external funding sources, such as grants or technical assistance, governments can adopt a more manageable approach.
2. Limited Technical Expertise
Digital accessibility is a specialized field, and most local government staff haven’t been trained in it. Creating accessible documents, structuring web content correctly, captioning videos, and designing navigable forms are all tasks that require specific skills.
Staff may not realize, for instance, how to write alternative text, ensure keyboard navigation, or tag PDFs for screen readers. Accessibility mistakes are easy to make without proper training—and sometimes, even well-meaning solutions, such as installing “accessibility widgets,” can create more problems than they resolve. That’s why it’s essential to invest in internal training or bring in accessibility professionals to help build capacity. Avoid relying on accessibility “widgets” or overlays, which often fail to address genuine issues and may even interfere with assistive technology. A fact sheet explaining the risks of these tools is available at overlayfactsheet.com.
3. Managing Third-Party Tools and Vendors
Today’s websites rely heavily on third-party tools, including payment processors, calendar plug-ins, embedded maps, and social media feeds. Unfortunately, many of these tools don’t meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards—and the DOJ’s rule makes clear that public entities are still responsible, even when a contractor or vendor delivers content.
This means local governments need to audit their third-party systems and update vendor contracts to require accessibility compliance. If a vendor’s product isn’t accessible, you may need to demand changes, replace the product, or offer an accessible workaround.
4. Dealing with Legacy Content
Addressing legacy content is another significant challenge for government websites seeking to achieve accessibility compliance. Only legacy content that qualifies as “archived web content” is exempt. The DOJ defines this as content created before the compliance date, maintained exclusively for reference, research, or recordkeeping, not altered after archiving, and stored in a dedicated, clearly identified archive section.
To manage this effectively:
- Start with What Matters Most: Focus first on essential services and information, such as emergency alerts, public meeting documents, application forms, and frequently used services.
- Develop a Phased Remediation Plan: After addressing high-priority content, systematically update the remaining content materials.
- Integrate Accessibility into Content Management: Ensure all new content complies with accessibility standards to prevent future issues.
By systematically addressing legacy content and embedding accessibility into regular content management practices, public entities can enhance compliance with the ADA and provide equitable access to their digital resources.
5. Maintaining Accessibility Over Time
Even if your website meets WCAG standards today, new issues can pop up tomorrow. Accessibility is not a one-time checklist—it’s an ongoing responsibility.
To stay ahead, local governments should integrate accessibility into their daily operations and procedures. That means training web editors, creating accessible publishing templates, scheduling regular audits, and assigning ongoing responsibility—often to an ADA coordinator, IT manager, or communications lead.
Developing an internal digital accessibility policy helps maintain standards as staff and vendors change. Accessibility should become a built-in part of content creation, not an afterthought.
Legal Risks Are Rising
Digital accessibility lawsuits are growing rapidly. In 2024 alone, over 4,000 accessibility-related lawsuits were filed in the United States, with approximately 2,400 of these cases being heard in federal court. Of these, 41% involved repeat offenders—organizations that had already been sued in the past. Approximately 25% of targeted websites utilize so-called “accessibility overlays” that, as mentioned earlier, often fail to address genuine issues ADA Web Accessibility Lawsuit Trends & Statistic: 2024 in Review.
Public entities are not immune. In the case Ellerbee v. State of Louisiana, a blind plaintiff sued the state, alleging that several Louisiana government websites were inaccessible to screen reader users. The court denied the state’s motion to dismiss, ruling that the ADA’s longstanding requirement for effective communication remains in force—even though the new DOJ rules had not yet taken effect (Lainey Feingold, 2025).
These cases make it clear: waiting is a risk. Ignoring accessibility—or relying on inadequate fixes such as overlays—will not shield agencies from legal or reputational harm.
Why It’s Smart to Start Now
With compliance deadlines in 2026 and 2027, local governments have three choices: wait and scramble at the last minute, delay until legal action forces change, or take proactive steps today. Only the third approach sets agencies up for long-term success.
Starting now gives you time to budget, build staff skills, and avoid rushed fixes. It also demonstrates that accessibility is a priority—not just a legal requirement. Acting early can help prevent legal risks, reduce costs, and improve service delivery.
Here are some manageable steps you can take today:
- Run free accessibility scans with tools like WAVE or Axe DevTools
- Prioritize high-impact content: emergency alerts and other essential services
- Train staff with resources from WebAIM or the ADA National Network
- Audit third-party tools and update contracts to include accessibility clauses
- Avoid overlays and widgets
- Engage your disability community for input and testing
Accessibility should be part of everyday operations—from content creation and procurement to training and public engagement. By starting early, your agency can ensure compliance, enhance the user experience, and foster greater trust with your community.
The Bigger Picture: Accessibility Is Better Government
Compliance is essential, but the goal is to ensure that public services work for everyone. Accessible websites are easier to navigate, more mobile-friendly, and better at serving everyone—residents with disabilities, seniors, people with low literacy, and even busy parents juggling services on their phones.
When governments embrace accessibility, they create more inclusive, responsive, and effective digital services. The work you do now will not only help you comply with the law—it will strengthen your connection to the community and build a more equitable public service infrastructure.
Final Thought: Start Now, Serve Everyone
The clock is ticking—but you don’t have to sprint. Start today by creating a plan, evaluating your current site, and connecting with the people you serve. Every fix you make, every training you offer, and every content review you complete is a step toward a more accessible future.
Digital accessibility is a good policy, smart governance, cost-efficient, and the right thing to do.