Website accessibility laws by country (2026)
The table below summarises the main law in each market and how exposed a private website is. Each country links to a full guide with official sources. Checked 9 October 2026.
| Market | Main law | Exposure |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Americans with Disabilities Act, Title III | Very high |
| Canada | Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and Integrated Accessibility Standards | Moderate |
| European Union | European Accessibility Act | High and rising |
| France | Ordinance of 6 September 2023 (EAA transposition) and Law 2005-102, article 47 | High |
| Germany | Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (BFSG) | High |
| Austria | Barrierefreiheitsgesetz (BaFG) | Moderate |
| Belgium | European Accessibility Act, Belgian transposition | Moderate |
| Finland | Laki eräiden tuotteiden ja palvelujen esteettömyysvaatimuksista | Moderate |
| Ireland | European Union (Accessibility Requirements of Products and Services) Regulations 2023 | Moderate |
| Italy | Legislative Decree 82/2022 (EAA) and Law 4/2004 (Legge Stanca) | Moderate to high |
| Netherlands | Implementatiewet toegankelijkheidsvoorschriften producten en diensten | Moderate, rising |
| Norway | Equality and Anti-Discrimination Act § 18 and Regulation on universal design of ICT solutions | Moderate |
| Poland | Ustawa o zapewnianiu spełniania wymagań dostępności niektórych produktów i usług przez podmioty gospodarcze | Moderate to high |
| Portugal | Decreto-Lei n.º 82/2022 | Moderate |
| Spain | Ley 11/2023 (Title I) | Moderate to high |
| Sweden | Lag (2023:254) om vissa produkters och tjänsters tillgänglighet | Moderate, active |
| Denmark | Lov om tilgængelighedskrav for produkter og tjenester | Low to moderate |
| United Kingdom | Equality Act 2010 | Low to moderate |
| Switzerland | Disability Discrimination Act (BehiG) | Low |
| Israel | Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities (Service Accessibility Adjustments) Regulations | High |
| United Arab Emirates | Federal Law No. 29 of 2006 (rights of people of determination) | Low |
| India | Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 | Moderate, rising |
| South Korea | Act on the Prohibition of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities | Moderate |
| Australia | Disability Discrimination Act 1992 | Low to moderate |
| Japan | Act on the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities | Low to moderate |
| Hong Kong | Disability Discrimination Ordinance | Low |
| New Zealand | Human Rights Act 1993 | Low |
| Singapore | Enabling Masterplan 2030 (policy, not law) | Low |
| Argentina | Ley 26.653 de Accesibilidad de la Información en las Páginas Web | Low to moderate |
| Brazil | Lei Brasileira de Inclusão | Moderate on paper |
| Mexico | Ley General para la Inclusión de las Personas con Discapacidad | Low |
| South Africa | Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act | Low |
What they have in common
Every market uses WCAG as the technical reference, directly or through a national standard such as EN 301 549 in the EU or IS 5568 in Israel. Testing against WCAG 2.2 AA and fixing what you find works wherever you sell; what differs is who enforces it and what a breach costs.
Where the risk is highest
- United States: private demand letters and lawsuits, with attorney fees and, in California, statutory damages.
- European Union: national authorities enforcing the European Accessibility Act; in Germany, competitors can also send formal warnings.
- Israel: statutory damages without proof of harm.
Check your site now
Jralo's free check tests your homepage and up to five pages for accessibility (WCAG 2.2 A and AA) and website QA problems. No sign-up.
Run the free checkSources
- United States: U.S. Department of Justice, Guidance on Web Accessibility and the ADA (2022)
- Canada: Ontario: How to make websites accessible
- European Union: Directive (EU) 2019/882 (European Accessibility Act), EUR-Lex
- France: Loi n° 2005-102, Légifrance
- Germany: BFSG, official text (gesetze-im-internet.de)
- Austria: Austrian Ministry of Social Affairs: Barrierefreiheitsgesetz
- Belgium: DLA Piper: Navigating the Belgian Accessibility Act (2025)
- Finland: Traficom: New accessibility requirements
- Ireland: S.I. No. 636 of 2023, Irish Statute Book
- Italy: Law 4/2004 (Legge Stanca), Normattiva
- Netherlands: Parliamentary papers 36380
- Norway: Regulation on universal design of ICT solutions, Lovdata
- Poland: Dz.U. 2024 poz. 731, ISAP
- Portugal: Garrigues: Portugal's new accessibility regime (2025)
- Spain: Ley 11/2023, BOE
- Sweden: Lag (2023:254), lagen.nu
- Denmark: LOV nr 801 af 07/06/2022, Retsinformation
- United Kingdom: Equality Act 2010, section 29
- Switzerland: BehiG, Fedlex
- Israel: Law.co.il: New website accessibility regulations (2013)
- United Arab Emirates: UAE government portal: people of determination (FAQ)
- India: AZB & Partners: India's evolving accessibility framework (2025)
- South Korea: BOIA: South Korean digital accessibility laws
- Australia: Disability Discrimination Act 1992, AustLII
- Japan: Cabinet Office, Act on the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities
- Hong Kong: Cap. 487, Hong Kong e-Legislation
- New Zealand: Human Rights Act 1993, NZ Legislation
- Singapore: MSF: Enabling Masterplan 2030
- Argentina: Ley 26.653, Argentina.gob.ar
- Brazil: Lei 13.146/2015, Planalto
- Mexico: LGIPD, Cámara de Diputados
- South Africa: PEPUDA, South African Government