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BY STATE For local governments

Local government websites

If you run a local government website, you answer to two sets of rules: the federal ADA Title II rule, which sets WCAG 2.1 AA for every public site, and your state's laws on what goes on the site and when. Pick your state to see what applies to you.

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State rulesWhat your state requires onlinePick your state on the map to see the meeting, records and notice rules for your website.

Website rules by state

Each page covers what your state asks of your website: open meetings and public records posting, legal notices, ADA Title II dates, associations and purchasing.

ADA Title II, everywhere

One federal rule. Two dates.

The Department of Justice's ADA Title II rule makes WCAG 2.1 AA the standard for the websites, documents and mobile apps of every state and local government, from the smallest township to the largest county. Special districts are covered too (ADA.gov (opens in a new tab)).

If your government serves 50,000 people or more, your date is April 26, 2027. Smaller governments and special districts have until April 26, 2028. DOJ moved those dates once in April 2026, and the rule may still change (Federal Register (opens in a new tab)).

Our ADA Title II deadlines guide explains what counts as web content, what's exempt and how population is measured.

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  1. APRIL 2024

    Rule published

    WCAG 2.1 AA becomes the standard for state and local government websites.

  2. APRIL 26, 2027

    50,000 or moreLarger governments

    Counties, cities, towns, townships and villages serving 50,000 people or more.

  3. APRIL 26, 2028

    Under 50,000Most governments

    Smaller governments and every special district. The rule may still change.

Why state rules matter for municipal website design

The federal rule says how a page must work. State law decides which pages have to exist, and the rules differ more than most people expect:

  • MichiganA Michigan public body whose site posts agendas or minutes at least monthly puts special meeting notices on its homepage at least 18 hours ahead.
  • IllinoisAn Illinois public body whose site is kept by full-time staff posts regular meeting agendas 48 hours ahead and approved minutes within 10 days.
  • IndianaIndiana requires the main boards of counties, cities, towns and townships to livestream meetings and keep linked archives.
  • OhioOhio townships may now publish resolutions on their own website and social media, with the fiscal officer keeping proof.
  • WisconsinWisconsin bodies may give meeting notice in one public place plus the website instead of three public places.
  • MinnesotaMinnesota requires no online meeting notices at all, but its truth-in-taxation notices list each taxing authority's website.

Good design puts those items where your staff can post them in a minute and residents can find them without calling your office.

Township, village, city and county website design

Whatever kind of local government you work for, the website we build is designed to meet WCAG 2.1 AA, and Agendas & Minutes, News & Notices, Document Center and Forms cover most of the posting rules on these pages. We've built websites for towns, townships, villages, cities and counties since 2013.

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Questions staff ask about website rules.

Short answers. Your state's guide goes deeper.

What does ADA Title II require of a local government website?

WCAG 2.1 AA, a set of tests for whether people with disabilities can use a site. It applies to your web pages and also to the documents, forms and meeting videos you post. A few kinds of content are exempt under narrow conditions, such as some archived pages and older documents. See how accessibility works on a new website.

When is the ADA Title II website deadline for our community?

April 26, 2027 if your government serves 50,000 people or more. Smaller governments and every special district have until April 26, 2028. Population comes from the most recent decennial Census. The rule may still change, so check the current dates before you plan around them. Our ADA Title II deadlines guide has the details.

Does state law require a local government to have a website?

In the six states we cover, mostly no. Illinois and Wisconsin have no general law requiring one, and most state website rules, like Michigan's homepage meeting notices or Illinois agenda posting, apply once you have a website. Indiana goes further: the main boards of counties, cities, towns and townships must livestream meetings and keep linked archives. Ask your attorney how the rules apply to you.

Do the rules differ for townships, villages, cities and counties?

ADA Title II is the same for all of them. Only population changes the date. State rules can differ by type. In Wisconsin, for example, a county can't post legal notices on its website instead of the newspaper. Each state guide says which rules apply to which kind of government.

Can our current website be fixed, or do we need a new one?

It depends on how the website is built and what your contract allows. Start with a free ADA check of a few key pages. If you're keeping the website you have, Muniway Access adds monitoring, PDF fixes and staff training to it. If you're ready to switch, see what comes with a new website.

Don't see your state? We work nationwide.

We build sites for local governments anywhere in the US. The ADA Title II rule is the same in your state as everywhere else, and on a call we'll walk through your state's own posting rules with you.

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