Key Points
- New federal accessibility deadlines are approaching. Eventually, all sites must comply.
- WCAG 2.2 is the future of digital accessibility, offering enhanced usability for mobile users and individuals with cognitive and motor impairments.
- enCodePlus provides full-service accessibility support—from audit to remediation and ongoing compliance—for dynamic, content-rich municipal websites.
As towns and cities, counties, townships, and special districts increasingly move public services and information online, the role of the local government website has become central to civic life. It’s your 24/7 front desk. It’s where people go to learn, participate, and access services. And increasingly, it’s where digital equity is defined—or denied.
That’s why web accessibility isn’t just a legal checkbox. It’s foundational to transparent, public service in the digital age.
Where We Are Now: The Legal Landscape
In 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice finalized a long-anticipated rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), requiring all state and local government websites to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards. The deadlines:
- April 24, 2026 for jurisdictions serving 50,000+ people
- April 26, 2027 for smaller governments and special districts
These are federal mandates. They apply nationwide. But some states, like Colorado, are enforcing even earlier deadlines. In Colorado, local government websites must be compliant by July 1, 2025.
Stay informed about emerging technology for local governments.
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Why enCodePlus Recommends WCAG 2.2—Now
While WCAG 2.1 AA is the minimum required for compliance, WCAG 2.2 is where digital accessibility is headed. It includes new success criteria that make your site more usable for people with motor impairments, cognitive disabilities, and mobile users. These are real improvements—not just technical upgrades.
Adopting WCAG 2.2 today:
- Positions your community for the future
- Reduces the risk of having to remediate the same issues twice
- Shows your community you care about inclusion and access—for everyoneWhy Accessibility Is More Complex for Platforms Like Ours
Most accessibility conversations focus on static websites—simple pages with a few images and a contact form. But enCodePlus isn’t that.
Our platform is a dynamic, content-driven application. It’s a legal publishing tool, a zoning engine, and a user engagement platform—all in one.
That means we must ensure:
- Legal provisions, tables, and maps are semantically structured for screen readers
- Jurisdiction-specific content is dynamically rendered with accessibility baked into the code
- Every interaction, from public search to admin workflows, meets accessibility standards
So when we talk about compliance, we’re talking about much more than adjusting colors and adding alt text. We’re talking about engineering accessibility into the foundation of a living, evolving platform.
Examples of Required Standards for WGAC 2.1AA and WGAC 2.2
To understand the scope of accessibility work, here are examples of the most common updates required under WCAG 2.1 AA and 2.2 AA:
How We Help You Comply
At enCodePlus, accessibility isn’t an afterthought—it’s part of our build. Our process includes:
- Audit & Review – We start with a comprehensive review of your current site against WCAG 2.1 and 2.2. This isn’t just an automated scan. We manually test navigation, screen reader behavior, form inputs, and more—page by page.
- Action Plan & Implementation – You’ll receive a prioritized remediation plan, and we’ll work with your team or handle implementation directly. We fix what matters first, and we fix it right.
- Testing & Validation – After updates, we perform manual and automated tests to confirm compliance—and ensure usability.
- Final Compliance Report – You receive documentation to support transparency and demonstrate your commitment to equitable digital access.
- Ongoing Support (Optional) – Accessibility isn’t a one-time event. We offer annual check-ins, monitoring, and updates to keep your site compliant as guidelines evolve.
Budgeting for Compliance Starts Now
With compliance deadlines on the horizon, now is the time to budget, plan, and act. Spreading work across fiscal years reduces last-minute pressure and prevents higher costs from emergency remediation later.
We offer two paths to match your budget and goals:
- WCAG 2.2 Compliance: Best for agencies seeking a future-ready, comprehensive solution.
- WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance: Meets today’s legal standards—a solid step if you’re phasing your approach.
Serving the Public Means Serving Everyone
The law is clear. The direction is set. And the communities we serve expect equitable access—online as well as off.
Your website isn’t just a convenience. It’s a civic resource. And accessibility ensures that everyone—regardless of ability—can participate in their local government.
Let’s work together to build digital public spaces that are open to all.
Ready to plan for compliance?
Let’s talk about your goals, your deadlines, and how we can help make your digital presence accessible, inclusive, and future-ready.
About enCodePlus – Intelligent Planning, Zoning and Codification Software
enCodePlus is a unique, web-based technology platform delivering a full suite of planning, zoning and municipal code tools and features, together with full or hybrid code management services. Created by the planning experts at Kendig Keast Collaborative, the platform serves planners and zoning administrators, clerks, attorneys, managers, economic developers, and consultant partners. The cutting-edge software streamlines the rejuvenation of the format and usefulness of plans, studies, codes and ordinances, design guidelines, standards and specifications and the processes to create and publish them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below, we’ve compiled answers to the most common inquiries to assist you in making informed decisions about accesibility.
What is WCAG compliance and who does it apply to?
WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) defines how to make web content more accessible to people with disabilities. WCAG 2.1 Level AA is now federally mandated for all U.S. state and local government websites.
What are the federal deadlines for compliance?
- April 24, 2026: Entities serving 50,000+ people
- April 26, 2027: Smaller jurisdictions and special districts
What’s the difference between WCAG 2.1 and 2.2?
WCAG 2.2 builds on 2.1 with additional success criteria that improve accessibility for users with cognitive and motor disabilities and enhance usability on mobile devices.
Is WCAG 2.2 required by law?
Not yet—but it’s widely considered the new standard to aim for. Many organizations are adopting WCAG 2.2 now to avoid future rework.
Can enCodePlus help with just 2.1 AA compliance?
Not yet—but it’s widely considered the new standard to aim for. Many organizations are adopting WCAG 2.2 now to avoid future rework.
How should we budget for accessibility compliance?
Our accessibility audit starts at $1,250. Remediation services may cost $1,500 or more depending on your site’s complexity. Ongoing monitoring is available as an annual add-on.