Fort Collins Website Accessibility Ordinance Guide

Civil Rights and Equity Colorado 3 Minutes Read · published February 20, 2026 Flag of Colorado

Fort Collins, Colorado requires municipal websites and online services to be accessible to people with disabilities under the city’s accessibility practices and applicable laws. This guide explains the city-level expectations, who enforces compliance, how to report barriers, and practical steps for departments, contractors, and residents. For official reporting and accessibility contacts, see the City of Fort Collins accessibility information [1].

Scope and Legal Basis

Municipal web accessibility in Fort Collins is implemented through the city’s accessibility policies and by reference to federal and state nondiscrimination laws where applicable. Departments publishing digital content for the City are required to follow accessibility best practices; specific technical standards (for example WCAG) or citations are not specified on the cited city page [1].

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement for web accessibility issues affecting City services is handled administratively by the City’s accessibility contact and, where legal remedies are required, by legal or civil avenues consistent with nondiscrimination law. Specific monetary fines or per-day penalties for website noncompliance are not specified on the cited municipal pages; federal remedies under the ADA may apply separately [2].

  • Enforcer: City Accessibility contact/ADA Coordinator and City legal counsel handle administrative complaints.
  • Complaints: file via the city accessibility/contact page for reporting barriers; investigations follow city intake procedures [1].
  • Fines/Fees: not specified on the cited municipal pages; see referenced code for municipal enforcement mechanisms [2].
  • Appeals and review: formal appeals or litigation follow administrative timelines or civil procedures; specific city appeal time limits for web accessibility complaints are not specified on the cited pages [2].
  • Non-monetary sanctions: corrective orders, content removal or remediation requests, and referral to legal processes may be used.
Contact the City accessibility coordinator promptly to preserve rights and meet deadlines.

Applications & Forms

The city provides an accessibility/contact form and guidance for reporting barriers; there is no separate published “website accessibility permit” form for departments or vendors on the cited page. Specific forms required for appeals or formal complaints are not specified on the cited municipal pages [1][2].

Compliance Steps for City Departments and Vendors

  • Audit digital content against commonly used standards (for example, WCAG 2.1) even if the city page does not name a binding version.
  • Document accessibility tests and remediation plans; keep records of fixes and communications.
  • Include accessibility requirements in RFPs, contracts, and vendor agreements for municipal sites and apps.
  • Respond promptly to reported barriers and track timelines for remediation.
Proactive audits reduce the risk of service disruption and improve public access.

Common Violations

  • Unlabeled form controls and missing alt text for images.
  • Inaccessible PDFs and documents posted without accessible alternatives.
  • Navigation that requires mouse-only interaction or inaccessible interactive widgets.

FAQ

Who enforces website accessibility for Fort Collins municipal sites?
The City’s accessibility contact/ADA Coordinator handles intake and coordination; legal or civil remedies follow nondiscrimination law processes. See the city accessibility page [1].
Can the public file a complaint about an inaccessible city webpage?
Yes. Use the City’s accessibility/contact channels to report barriers; the city documents and investigates reported issues [1].
Are there set fines for website noncompliance in the municipal code?
Specific fines or per-day penalty amounts for website accessibility are not specified on the cited municipal pages; municipal enforcement language is found in the city code but does not list web-specific fines [2].

How-To

  1. Identify the inaccessible content and capture examples (URLs, screenshots, steps to reproduce).
  2. Check the City accessibility/contact page for reporting instructions and submit the report with your evidence [1].
  3. Request a response and expected remediation timeframe; keep records of correspondence.
  4. If unsatisfied, consider escalation to the City’s legal office or external civil remedies under federal/state law; consult the municipal code for procedural references [2].

Key Takeaways

  • Fort Collins directs accessibility reports through its official accessibility contact channels.
  • Specific monetary fines for web noncompliance are not published on the cited city pages.
  • Record evidence, file a city report, and follow appeal paths if needed.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] City of Fort Collins accessibility and contact information
  2. [2] Fort Collins Municipal Code (Code of Ordinances)

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