Savannah Website Accessibility Law - WCAG Rules

Technology and Data Georgia 3 Minutes Read · published February 21, 2026 Flag of Georgia

Savannah, Georgia requires public-facing websites operated by the city and many city contractors to follow recognized accessibility standards. This guide explains how Savannah entities should approach Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) conformance, the municipal enforcement pathway, how to file complaints, and practical steps to reduce legal and service risks for residents with disabilities.

Penalties & Enforcement

The City enforces accessibility obligations through administrative complaint processes and civil enforcement where applicable. Specific monetary fines or per-day penalties for web accessibility failures are not uniformly published on the cited municipal page; see the official Savannah contact for complaint intake and enforcement procedures.[1]

  • Fines and monetary penalties: not specified on the cited page; municipal enforcement may instead use orders or corrective requirements.[1]
  • Escalation: first notice, corrective order, then civil enforcement or court action; exact escalation timeframes and tiers are not specified on the cited page.[1]
  • Non-monetary sanctions: corrective orders, mandatory remediation timelines, injunctive relief, or referral to the City Attorney for civil proceedings.
  • Enforcer and intake: City ADA Coordinator and the department that operates the affected website accept complaints and coordinate inspections and remediation.[1]
  • Appeals and review: appeal routes depend on the issuing department and may proceed to administrative review or civil court; specific time limits for appeals are not specified on the cited page.[1]
If a monetary penalty or daily fine is required it will be listed in the enforcing department's order or the City Code.

Applications & Forms

There is no single published city form for web-accessibility variances or waivers on the cited municipal page; requests for accommodation, technical assistance, or complaint submission are handled through the ADA Coordinator or the appropriate department.[1]

  • Accommodation or complaint submission: contact the City ADA Coordinator or use the department contact page listed under municipal accessibility resources.[1]
  • Deadlines: remediation timeframes are issued case-by-case in orders; not specified on the cited page.

Practical Compliance Steps

Adopt WCAG 2.1 AA (or the level specified by the department) as the technical standard for new and updated content, implement accessibility testing in development workflows, and publish a website accessibility statement with contact and complaint instructions. Federal guidance and technical references clarify how WCAG maps to ADA obligations and remediation best practices.[2]

  • Policy: publish a clear accessibility policy and statement on the site identifying the standard used and contact channels.
  • Testing: schedule automated scans and manual accessibility audits, including use of assistive technologies.
  • Remediation: prioritize high-impact content and interactive components for fixes.
  • Training: require accessibility training for content authors and developers.
Document fixes and timelines to show good-faith remediation efforts.

Common Violations

  • Missing alternative text for images.
  • Poor keyboard navigation or inaccessible forms.
  • Insufficient color contrast or unlabeled interactive controls.

FAQ

Who must comply with Savannah web accessibility rules?
City departments and affiliated contractors providing public-facing services must follow the city's accessibility policies; private businesses may be subject to state or federal obligations.
How do I report an inaccessible city website?
Contact the City ADA Coordinator or the department that manages the website; complaint intake procedures and contact details are published on the municipal accessibility page.[1]
What standard should we use for conformance?
Use WCAG 2.1 AA as a practical baseline unless the department specifies a different level; federal technical guidance clarifies mapping of WCAG to ADA expectations.[2]

How-To

  1. Audit your site with automated tools and manual testing using assistive technologies.
  2. Prioritize and fix high-impact accessibility issues affecting navigation and forms.
  3. Update your accessibility statement and publish a contact for complaints.
  4. Train staff and integrate accessibility checks into your deployment pipeline.
  5. Document remediation and respond to complaints within the department timelines.

Key Takeaways

  • Adopt WCAG 2.1 AA and document your policy.
  • Use both automated and manual testing with assistive tools.
  • Contact the City ADA Coordinator to report issues or request technical guidance.[1]

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] City of Savannah - ADA and accessibility contacts
  2. [2] U.S. Department of Justice - ADA web accessibility guidance

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