File a Website Accessibility Complaint - Philadelphia

Technology and Data Pennsylvania 3 Minutes Read ยท published February 05, 2026 Flag of Pennsylvania

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania you can report inaccessible government or city-contracted websites and seek enforcement under local anti-discrimination and accessibility processes. This guide explains which city offices handle web accessibility complaints, how to file, what to expect from enforcement, and practical steps to preserve evidence and request remedies.

Penalties & Enforcement

The City of Philadelphia resolves accessibility complaints through administrative investigation, conciliation, and orders. Monetary fines specific to website accessibility are not specified on the cited pages and will depend on the statute or ordinance applied and the enforcing office.[1]

  • Enforcer: Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations (PCHR) and city ADA/Disability offices coordinate investigations and remedies.[1]
  • Escalation: initial intake and investigation, conciliation or voluntary remediation, then administrative orders or referral to courts if conciliation fails; specific monetary ranges are not listed on the cited pages.[1]
  • Fines: amounts and daily penalties for website accessibility violations are not specified on the cited pages; see the enforcing office for statutory remedies and any civil penalties.[1]
  • Non-monetary sanctions: corrective orders, required remediation plans, monitoring, and mandated accessibility upgrades or reasonable accommodations may be imposed; removal or blocking of content is handled per agency procedures.[1]
  • Inspections and complaints: complaints are accepted by PCHR and by city accessibility or disability offices through online intake or email/phone; intake may trigger an investigation and request for documents or screenshots.[1]
Document every accessibility barrier with URLs, dates, and screenshots before filing.

Applications & Forms

The city provides an online complaint intake system and guidance for discrimination or accessibility complaints. The specific PCHR complaint intake form and the city accessibility report form are available on official phila.gov pages; if a dedicated ADA website-complaint form is not published, complainants use the general intake process.[1][2]

How to file a website accessibility complaint

Follow these steps to file a complaint about a city website or city-contracted service that is not accessible.

  1. Gather evidence: URLs, times, browser/device, and screenshots of the inaccessible content.
  2. Contact the agency or page owner first to request remediation and an accommodation; keep records of that contact.
  3. File an official complaint with the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations or use the city accessibility report intake; include your evidence and desired remedy.[1][2]
  4. Cooperate with investigation: respond to requests for information and attend interviews or conciliation sessions if invited.
  5. If conciliation fails, pursue administrative orders or civil enforcement as directed by the enforcing office; timelines and monetary penalties are determined by the office and applicable law.[1]
You may be asked to provide a proposed reasonable accommodation or an example of an acceptable remedy.

Common violations

  • Images without alternative text that block understanding or navigation.
  • Forms and PDFs that are unreadable by screen readers.
  • Navigation or controls that require mouse-only interactions.

FAQ

Who enforces website accessibility complaints in Philadelphia?
The Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations investigates discrimination and accessibility complaints; city disability or accessibility offices coordinate remediation and accommodations.[1]
How long do I have to file a complaint?
Filing deadlines are not specified on the cited city intake pages; contact PCHR for statute-based limits and time frames.[1]
Are there fees to file a complaint?
The cited intake information does not list filing fees; public complaint intake is generally free, but confirm with the enforcing office.[1]

How-To

  1. Step 1: Save precise evidence (URLs, screenshots, date/time, and device/browser details).
  2. Step 2: Contact the website owner or city agency to request remediation and keep written records.
  3. Step 3: Submit a formal complaint to PCHR or the city accessibility intake system with your evidence.[1][2]
  4. Step 4: Participate in investigation or conciliation, and follow directions for appeals or enforcement.

Key Takeaways

  • Document barriers thoroughly before filing to strengthen your complaint.
  • Start by requesting remediation directly from the agency; this may speed resolution.
  • PCHR is the primary enforcement office for discrimination-based accessibility claims in Philadelphia.[1]

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] City of Philadelphia: Commission on Human Relations - File a Complaint
  2. [2] City of Philadelphia: Report accessibility issues
  3. [3] City of Philadelphia: Accessibility services

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