Who enforces website accessibility in Durham?

The city civil rights or equity office and the city attorney generally coordinate enforcement, with individual departments responsible for their sites.

How do I file a complaint about an inaccessible page?

Start with the department that operates the page; if unresolved, submit a written complaint to the city civil rights or equity office and keep records of all correspondence.

Are there fines for inaccessible city websites?

Specific monetary fines for website accessibility are not specified on consolidated public policy pages; the city typically uses remediation plans, contractual remedies, or legal action.

Durham Website Accessibility Rules & Complaints

Civil Rights and Equity North Carolina 3 Minutes Read · published February 09, 2026

In Durham, North Carolina, public entities and many city vendors must follow accessibility expectations for websites and digital services to ensure people with disabilities can access information and civic resources. This guide explains how Durham approaches website accessibility, how to report barriers, what enforcement and remedies exist, and practical steps to file a complaint or request an accommodation.

Report barriers promptly to allow the city to assess and remediate issues.

Scope and Who This Covers

City-run websites, web portals for permits, public records, and many vendor-hosted services accessed by Durham residents are generally expected to meet accessible design standards. Private websites not operated for or on behalf of the city are outside this municipal scope unless a contract or city program explicitly requires accessibility.

Penalties & Enforcement

Durham relies primarily on administrative resolution, remediation plans, and contract remedies to address website accessibility problems; specific monetary fines for web accessibility are not commonly specified in general municipal web policies. Where city contracts or ordinances apply, remedies may include orders to remediate, contract penalties, or referral to legal action.

Enforcer: Civil rights, equity, or legal offices typically coordinate investigations, and the city attorney enforces contractual or legal remedies.
Complaint intake: Complaints are usually accepted in writing by the department that operates the site or by the city civil rights/equity office.
Remediation orders: The city may require a remediation plan with deadlines for fixes.
Court or legal action: If administrative steps fail, the city may pursue contractual remedies or civil litigation.
Fines or penalties: Specific fine amounts for website accessibility are not specified on the cited city policy pages; remedies are often contractual or corrective.

Documentation of the barrier and the steps you took to report it will help any enforcement review.

Escalation, Appeals, and Time Limits

Escalation typically moves from intake and negotiation to written remediation plans, then to legal enforcement if unresolved. The city's public guidance does not list a uniform fine schedule or statutory time limits for appeals of administrative accessibility determinations; timelines for appeals or judicial review follow the procedures applicable to the underlying contractual or administrative action and may vary by department. Current municipal procedures should be consulted when available; where pages do not state a deadline explicitly, consider acting promptly and preserving records.

Defences and Discretion

Common defenses include reasonable technical infeasibility, undue burden in a specific contract context, or reliance on a third-party vendor absent contractual accessibility requirements. The city may grant temporary accommodations or timelines for remediation when a reasonable justification is documented.

Common Violations

Unlabeled form controls that screen readers cannot identify.
Documents and PDFs posted without accessible tagging.
Navigation or menus that cannot be used by keyboard-only users.

Applications & Forms

No central, citywide web-accessibility complaint form is universally published for all departments; many departments accept written complaints by email or web contact, and some use department-specific intake forms or vendor contract enforcement procedures. If no form is available for a specific site, submit a written complaint to the operating department and the city's civil rights or equity office and request confirmation of receipt. Current procedures and any department forms should be checked with the listed contacts below (current as of February 2026).

How-To

Identify the inaccessible content and capture screenshots, URLs, browser details, and the date/time you encountered the issue.
Contact the department responsible for the website with a clear description and your contact information; request confirmation of receipt.
If unresolved, submit a formal written complaint to the city civil rights or equity office, including evidence and prior correspondence.
Request a remediation timeline and keep copies of all responses; ask about interim accommodations if content is time-sensitive.
If administrative remedies fail, consider consulting the city attorney's office or seeking judicial relief under applicable state or federal disability laws.

FAQ

Who enforces website accessibility in Durham?: The city civil rights or equity office and the city attorney generally coordinate enforcement, with individual departments responsible for their sites.
How do I file a complaint about an inaccessible page?: Start with the department that operates the page; if unresolved, submit a written complaint to the city civil rights or equity office and keep records of all correspondence.
Are there fines for inaccessible city websites?: Specific monetary fines for website accessibility are not specified on consolidated public policy pages; the city typically uses remediation plans, contractual remedies, or legal action.

Key Takeaways

Document barriers carefully and report them to the operating department first.
Use the civil rights or equity office when department-level resolution is insufficient.