What is the new ADA Title II web compliance deadline?

Per the DOJ's April 20, 2026 Interim Final Rule (91 Fed. Reg. 20902), state and local government websites must conform to WCAG 2.1 Level AA by April 26, 2027 (entities serving 50,000+ population) or April 26, 2028 (smaller entities and special district governments). These dates extended the original 2024 rule deadlines by one year.

Did the DOJ extend the HHS Section 504 deadlines too?

No. The DOJ's April 2026 IFR only extends ADA Title II web compliance dates. HHS has NOT extended its Section 504 web/mobile rule. The May 11, 2026 deadline for recipients with 15+ employees, and May 10, 2027 for those with fewer than 15, remain in effect.

Is there an ADA deadline for private businesses?

There is no formal regulatory deadline under ADA Title III for private business websites. Courts and the DOJ apply WCAG 2.1 Level AA today. The European Accessibility Act has been enforcement-active since June 28, 2025 for any business serving EU customers.

ADA Website Compliance Deadlines

Q: When did the European Accessibility Act take effect?

June 28, 2025. The EAA (Directive 2019/882) is now enforcement-active across all 27 EU member states. It applies to any business serving EU customers regardless of where the business is headquartered. The technical standard is EN 301 549 v3.2.1, which incorporates WCAG 2.1 AA.

ADA web compliance deadlines are the federal-rule effective dates for WCAG 2.1 AA conformance. The headline dates today: April 26, 2027 and April 26, 2028for ADA Title II (extended one year by the DOJ's April 2026 Interim Final Rule), May 11, 2026 for HHS Section 504 (NOT extended), and June 28, 2025 (already past) for the EU Accessibility Act.

All active deadlines

ADA Title II — Web/Mobile Final Rule (large entities)

Extended by IFR

April 26, 2027(was April 24, 2026)

Applies to: State and local government entities serving populations of 50,000+

Technical standard: WCAG 2.1 Level AA

Enforcement: U.S. Department of Justice

DOJ Interim Final Rule, 91 Fed. Reg. 20902 (April 20, 2026)

Source

ADA Title II — Web/Mobile Final Rule (small entities + special districts)

Extended by IFR

April 26, 2028(was April 26, 2027)

Applies to: State and local government entities serving populations under 50,000, and special district governments regardless of population

Technical standard: WCAG 2.1 Level AA

Enforcement: U.S. Department of Justice

DOJ Interim Final Rule, 91 Fed. Reg. 20902 (April 20, 2026)

Source

Public comment period on the Title II IFR

Active — not extended

June 22, 2026

Applies to: Open to anyone

Technical standard: —

Enforcement: U.S. Department of Justice

Source

HHS Section 504 web/mobile accessibility rule (recipients with 15+ employees)

Active — not extended

May 11, 2026

Applies to: Recipients of HHS funding with 15+ employees (most hospitals, clinics, healthcare providers, educational institutions)

Technical standard: WCAG 2.1 Level AA

Enforcement: HHS Office for Civil Rights

NOT EXTENDED — HHS has not matched the DOJ IFR

Source

HHS Section 504 web/mobile accessibility rule (recipients with <15 employees)

Active — not extended

May 10, 2027

Applies to: Recipients of HHS funding with fewer than 15 employees

Technical standard: WCAG 2.1 Level AA

Enforcement: HHS Office for Civil Rights

Source

European Accessibility Act (Directive 2019/882)

Active — not extended

June 28, 2025

Applies to: Any business serving EU customers regardless of where headquartered. Microenterprise exemption: <10 employees AND <€2M turnover.

Technical standard: EN 301 549 v3.2.1 (incorporates WCAG 2.1 Level AA)

Enforcement: Each EU member state

Source

ADA Title III — Private Businesses (no formal DOJ technical standard)

Active — not extended

No formal deadline

Applies to: Private businesses that are 'places of public accommodation' — most B2C websites

Technical standard: Courts and DOJ apply WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the operative benchmark, but there is no formal regulatory deadline.

Enforcement: DOJ + private plaintiffs

Source

“Wait, didn't the deadline get extended?”

Only ADA Title II was extended, by the DOJ's April 2026 Interim Final Rule. Three things were not extended:

HHS Section 504 web/mobile rule — May 11, 2026 / May 10, 2027 still stand
The European Accessibility Act — enforcement-active since June 28, 2025
ADA Title III private litigation — plaintiffs filed 3,117 federal website cases in 2025 (27% YoY growth), and lawsuits continue every business day

Full Title II rule + IFR breakdown →

FAQ

What is the new ADA Title II web compliance deadline?: Per the DOJ's April 20, 2026 Interim Final Rule (91 Fed. Reg. 20902), state and local government websites must conform to WCAG 2.1 Level AA by April 26, 2027 (entities serving 50,000+ population) or April 26, 2028 (smaller entities and special district governments). These dates extended the original 2024 rule deadlines by one year.
Did the DOJ extend the HHS Section 504 deadlines too?: No. The DOJ's April 2026 IFR only extends ADA Title II web compliance dates. HHS has NOT extended its Section 504 web/mobile rule. The May 11, 2026 deadline for recipients with 15+ employees, and May 10, 2027 for those with fewer than 15, remain in effect.
Is there an ADA deadline for private businesses?: There is no formal regulatory deadline under ADA Title III for private business websites. Courts and the DOJ apply WCAG 2.1 Level AA today. The European Accessibility Act has been enforcement-active since June 28, 2025 for any business serving EU customers.
When did the European Accessibility Act take effect?: June 28, 2025. The EAA (Directive 2019/882) is now enforcement-active across all 27 EU member states. It applies to any business serving EU customers regardless of where the business is headquartered. The technical standard is EN 301 549 v3.2.1, which incorporates WCAG 2.1 AA.