ADA Title II & WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance Checklist: What Every Municipality Must Do by April 2027

Resources
Written By Kate Bayer

Under ADA Title II, state and local governments must ensure their web content is accessible to people with disabilities. The Department of Justice has set a firm deadline: April 24, 2026 for agencies with populations 50,000+, and April 26, 2027 for those under 50,000 and special districts. That means if your municipality isn’t compliant by then, you could face legal action, funding hurdles, or public complaints.

Meeting WCAG 2.1 Level AA isn’t just ticking checkboxes, it means real residents with disabilities can access your services, forms, and information.

Full WCAG 2.1 Level AA Compliance Checklist for Municipal Websites

1. Governance & Planning

  • Assign an Accessibility Coordinator and define ownership.

  • Conduct an accessibility audit of your current site (automated + manual insp.).

  • Set an internal timeline to reach compliance well before April 2027.

  • Create a Public Accessibility Statement: what you're doing, feedback channel, update plans.

2. Structure & Navigation

  • Ensure semantic HTML (proper headings h1-h6, lists, landmarks).

  • Provide consistent navigation and page titles.

  • Include a visible, accessible site search.

  • Use skip links for keyboard users.

3. Images & Media

  • Add meaningful alt text to all informative images.

  • Ensure audio/video has captions, audio descriptions, and transcripts.

  • Avoid any autoplay media; if necessary, provide clear controls to pause/stop.

4. Color & Contrast

  • Maintain a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text.

  • Color must not be the only method of conveying information.

5. Forms & Interactive Components

  • Provide associated <label> (or ARIA labeling) for every form field.

  • Offer clear error messages and suggestions on form mistakes.

  • Ensure keyboard-only interaction for all UI elements (menus, modals, widgets).

  • Accessible focus states (visible outlines) on all interactive items.

6. PDF & Document Accessibility

  • All PDFs, Word documents, and other downloads must be tagged and accessible, or replaced with WCAG-compliant web versions (HTML forms, text versions, etc.).

  • Use headings, alt text, and logical reading order in PDFs if they’re retained.

7. Keyboard & Focus

  • Ensure full keyboard operability across the site (no mouse-only functions).

  • Use logical tab order.

  • Focusable elements must be visible when focused.

8. ARIA & Dynamic Content

  • Use ARIA roles and properties appropriately, and test to avoid misuse.

  • For any live regions or dynamically updated content, ensure ARIA live is set properly to notify assistive tech users.

9. Responsive & Mobile Accessibility

  • Responsive layout: works across devices, text reflows without overlapping.

  • Touch targets are at least 44x44px and spaced adequately.

  • Accessible zoom up to 200% without loss of content/functionality.

10. Error Prevention & Help

  • Legal or financial forms must include “confirm” options and validation before submission.

  • Provide help links or instructions in context for complex tasks.

11. Testing & User Feedback

  • Conduct keyboard-only, screen reader, and other assistive tech tests (NVDA, VoiceOver, JAWS).

  • Recruit users with disabilities to perform task-based usability testing.

  • Publish a feedback form for accessibility issues, respond within 2 business days.

12. Training & Ongoing Maintenance

  • Train staff who manage website content on accessibility best practices.

  • Establish a quarterly accessibility review schedule.

  • Monitor accessibility issues using automated tools and error tracking.

  • Update your Accessibility Statement at least annually.

13. Legal & Documentation

  • Document all improvements, testing results, and remediation plans.

  • Retain records showing your compliance efforts, timelines, tests, and feedback resolution.

  • Make documentation available to the public or for audits as needed.

Why Munibit Makes This Simple

You don’t have to tackle this checklist alone.

Munibit was built with this in mind to make it easier for municipalities to improve their websites for WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards. With us, you get:

  • A .gov website, accessible CMS and site template that improves semantic structure, contrast, responsive design, and more.

  • PDF-free workflows that allow you to have downloadable documents and accessible web forms.

  • Built-in keyboard + screen reader support and fast user testing reports.

  • Accessibility Statement template in footer that is kept current.

  • Expert support and remediation guidance, plus training for your staff.

  • Ongoing monitoring and audit reports so you're always able to prove attempted compliance.

So instead of juggling audits, legacy PDF fixes, and staff training, you can just sign up, migrate, and meet the April 26, 2027 deadline without the stress.

Final Thoughts

ADA Title II and the April 26, 2027 deadline aren’t optional. But compliance doesn’t have to be hard or expensive. Use this checklist to know exactly what needs to happen, and consider Munibit if you’d rather skip the technical lift and get there faster.

Need help getting started? Schedule a walkthrough here →

TL;DR: Your Complete 2027 WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance Checklist for Municipal Websites

By April 26, 2027, all U.S. municipalities under 50,000 residents must comply with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards under ADA Title II. This post breaks down everything you need to become more compliant. At the end, see how Munibit can handle it all for you fast, affordably, and worry-free.

Kate Bayer
Next

What Does a Compliant Municipal Website Actually Look Like?