The ADA Web Rule for Public Agencies, in Plain Language

The Department of Justice fact sheet explains a technical accessibility standard for state and local government websites and mobile apps, including content supplied through outside arrangements.

This is a summary of the Department of Justice fact sheet dated April 8, 2024, including its note about the April 20, 2026 Interim Final Rule, not legal advice. The fact sheet says the final Title II rule was published in the Federal Register on April 24, 2024. Its examples connect the technical requirements with familiar public services.

What the Rule Covers

According to the fact sheet, the rule applies to state and local governments, including their agencies and departments, as well as special purpose districts, Amtrak and other commuter authorities. Its examples include public schools, community colleges, public universities, libraries, parks and recreation programs, and public transit agencies.

The Department's explanation concerns both web content and mobile apps that a state or local government provides or makes available. That includes arrangements in which someone else provides the content or app for the government. When reviewing a public service, it is therefore useful to consider both the agency's own pages and the outside arrangements described in the fact sheet.

The Standard: WCAG 2.1 Level AA

The fact sheet names the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Version 2.1, Level AA as the technical standard. It explains that WCAG is developed by the World Wide Web Consortium and gives requirements for accessibility, including captions for videos. The version and level are part of the standard's name and should stay together when recording it.

The Department says state and local government web content and mobile apps usually need to meet that standard. Its explanation also distinguishes the technical requirement from continuing obligations under the ADA. The fact sheet says exceptions do not remove obligations concerning effective communication, reasonable modifications and equal opportunity to participate in or benefit from public services, programs and activities.

Contractors and Outside Designers

The fact sheet gives a county parks page as an example. A page listing park locations and opening hours must meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA even when a local web design company creates and maintains it for the county. The example puts the focus on the public content being provided, including content handled by an outside designer.

The Department gives a parallel example for mobile apps: a city parking-payment app must meet the standard even if a private company runs it. It also says governments contracting with other entities to provide public services must make sure their contractors follow Title II. For planning purposes, record who provides each public-facing page or app and what arrangement connects it to the agency.

The New Compliance Dates

The fact sheet says the Interim Final Rule published on April 20, 2026 extended the compliance dates. For state and local government entities with a total population of 50,000 or more, it gives April 26, 2027. For public entities with a total population below 50,000, or any special district government, it gives April 26, 2028.

Keep each date paired with its category when making a planning note. The fact sheet expressly includes any special district government in the latter category. A useful record includes the category, the corresponding date and the fact sheet's explanation, so that a deadline is not separated from the conditions attached to it.

A Practical Starting Point

The Department illustrates an accessibility barrier with an image that carries public information. Without text describing it, a person who is blind and uses a screen reader may have no way to know what the image contains. The fact sheet calls that description alternative text, or alt text.

That example suggests a practical review question: what information is presented visually, and where is its text description? Use the Department's examples to organise an initial inventory of public pages, mobile apps and outside providers. Keep the named standard, the relevant compliance category and the information a person needs to use the service together throughout that review.