50+ employees
Ontario businesses and non-profits with 50 or more employees must make public websites and web content conform with WCAG 2.0 Level AA, subject to the regulation's scope and exceptions.
ONTARIO ACCESSIBILITY GUIDE
AODA requirements, reporting, and enforcement—explained clearly.
Understand who has website obligations, what WCAG standard applies, what the December 31, 2026 filing means, and why documented remediation matters.01 · WEBSITE REQUIREMENTS
Who must make public websites accessible?
Ontario's web requirements cover the Government of Ontario and Legislative Assembly, designated public-sector organizations, and large private or non-profit organizations.Public-sector organizations
Designated public-sector organizations also have public website accessibility requirements. Government and Legislative Assembly obligations additionally cover intranet content under the prescribed schedule.
Content and control matter
The rules focus on public-facing websites and content the organization controls. Pre-2012 content, unconvertible information, and lack of control can affect application, but organizations should document their analysis and alternatives.
DECEMBER 31, 2026
Accessibility compliance report deadline
Ontario businesses and non-profits with 20 or more employees must file an accessibility compliance report for the 2026 reporting cycle. Website WCAG obligations and filing obligations use different employee thresholds—filing a report does not itself prove every page is accessible.- Confirm which AODA requirements apply to the organization.
- Review public websites, documents, forms, and key customer journeys.
- Keep evidence of tests, fixes, exceptions, and ongoing monitoring.
- Have an authorized senior officer certify the report accurately.
02 · ENFORCEMENT
What are the potential AODA fines?
Enforcement is contextual. Not every detected website issue produces a fine, and automated testing alone does not determine legal compliance.Administrative penalties and prosecution are possible
Directors can issue compliance orders and administrative penalties under the AODA. For offences prosecuted under the Act, the maximum fine on conviction is $50,000 for each day or part of a day for a person and $100,000 for each day or part of a day for a corporation. Corporate directors or officers who fail their duty to take reasonable care may also face a maximum of $50,000 per day on conviction.
These are statutory maximums, not automatic charges for each scanner finding. Seek qualified legal advice about a specific organization or enforcement matter.03 · PRACTICAL READINESS
A defensible accessibility workflow
- 1Inventory
List domains, web applications, PDFs, video, forms, and third-party journeys.
- 2Test
Combine automated WCAG checks with keyboard, screen-reader, zoom, and content review.
- 3Remediate
Prioritize severe barriers, fix shared components, and verify changes against the original evidence.
- 4Document and monitor
Keep reports, decisions, alternative-format processes, and scheduled checks as the website changes.
OFFICIAL ONTARIO SOURCES
Verify requirements at the source.
START WITH EVIDENCE