Tempe WCAG Requirements for City Websites

Technology and Data Arizona 3 Minutes Read · published February 20, 2026 Flag of Arizona · By Emily Carter

The City of Tempe, Arizona maintains an accessibility statement and procedures for reporting barriers on official city websites. This guide explains how the city references WCAG accessibility goals, who enforces compliance, how to report issues, and practical steps for web teams and residents to secure accessible digital services in Tempe.[1]

Check the official accessibility contact before filing formal appeals.

Scope and Legal Basis

Tempe’s online accessibility efforts apply to city-operated websites, web applications, and public-facing digital documents. The city provides an accessibility statement and contact path for reporting barriers; the specific binding legal instrument or a city ordinance explicitly mandating a particular WCAG level is not specified on the cited municipal pages.[2]

Penalties & Enforcement

Formal monetary fines or statutory penalties for website inaccessibility are not specified on the cited city pages. Enforcement tends to be administrative through correction orders, accommodation requirements, and potential civil remedies under federal or state disability law; the City’s accessibility statement outlines reporting and remediation pathways but does not list explicit fine amounts or escalation schedules.[1][2]

If you believe discrimination has occurred, use the city contact to document and escalate your complaint promptly.
  • Non-monetary sanctions may include official notices to remediate, removal or replacement requests for inaccessible content, and referral to legal counsel or external agencies.
  • Enforcing office: City Communications and Public Affairs and the designated accessibility contact or ADA coordinator listed on the city accessibility page.
  • Inspection and complaint pathway: report barriers via the city accessibility contact; follow the published instructions for documentation and expected response times on the official page.[1]
  • Appeals and review: the cited pages describe complaint submission and follow-up but do not specify formal appeal time limits or appeal bodies; for time limits the cited pages state contact procedures rather than statutory deadlines.
  • Defences/discretion: the city may consider reasonable accommodations, technical exceptions for legacy systems, or timelines for remediation; specific "reasonable excuse" language and procedural discretions are not set out on the cited municipal pages.

Applications & Forms

The City does not publish a dedicated online permit form specifically titled for "website accessibility compliance" on the cited pages; reporting typically uses a web form or contact email on the accessibility statement page, and no specific application number or processing fee is specified on the cited pages.[1]

Practical Compliance Steps for Tempe Departments

  • Adopt a documented accessibility policy that references WCAG and assigns responsibility to web/content owners.
  • Perform regular automated and manual accessibility audits, and prioritize fixes for critical user journeys.
  • Publish an accessibility statement with contact details and expected response times.
  • Keep records of complaints, remediation steps, and timelines for at least the retention period required by city records rules.

FAQ

What WCAG level does Tempe require for city websites?
The city provides an accessibility statement and remediation process, but a specific WCAG conformance level required by a city ordinance or policy is not specified on the cited page.[1]
How do I report an accessibility barrier on a Tempe website?
Use the contact method listed on the City of Tempe accessibility page to report barriers, include the URL, device/browser, and a description of the problem; the city will respond via the contact route provided.[1]
Are there fines for noncompliant web content?
Monetary fines specific to website accessibility are not specified on the cited city pages; enforcement focuses on remediation and administrative pathways.[2]

How-To

  1. Document the accessibility issue with screenshots, URLs, and steps to reproduce.
  2. Submit the report using the City of Tempe accessibility contact or web form listed on the official accessibility statement page.[1]
  3. Request reasonable accommodation or alternative formats if you need the information urgently.
  4. If unresolved, request escalation in writing and retain copies of all correspondence for records.

Key Takeaways

  • Tempe maintains an official accessibility point of contact for reporting barriers.
  • Specific fines or an explicit municipal ordinance citing a WCAG level are not specified on the cited pages.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] City of Tempe accessibility statement and contact page
  2. [2] Tempe Municipal Code (code of ordinances)

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Emily Carter

Emily Carter

Municipal Policy Researcher

Emily researches municipal codes and local ordinances across the United States. She verifies every guide against official city and state sources before publication.