Salt Lake City Website Accessibility and WCAG Guide
Salt Lake City, Utah webmasters must consider accessibility when publishing municipal-facing or public websites. This guide summarizes the local guidance available from the City, how enforcement and complaints are handled, and practical steps to align sites with WCAG standards used by public entities. It focuses on actions site owners can take, the City office to contact for accessibility issues, and where to find official statements and assistance.
Penalties & Enforcement
Salt Lake City does not publish a separate municipal ordinance on private website accessibility in the municipal code page cited below; enforcement for public accessibility issues is coordinated through the City’s ADA program and relevant departments. Specific monetary fines or daily penalty amounts for website noncompliance are not specified on the cited City ADA page.[1]
- Enforcer: City ADA Coordinator and affected department (Information Technology, Communications, Planning/Building for permitting issues).
- Inspection/Complaint pathway: file a complaint with the City ADA office or the department hosting the site; see official contact page for submission methods.
- Appeals and review: appeals are handled through the City’s administrative procedures or via state/federal remedies where Title II/Title III ADA claims apply; specific City-level appeal time limits are not specified on the cited page.
- Monetary penalties: not specified on the cited page.
- Non-monetary sanctions: remedial orders, accessibility remediation plans, site takedown or required redesign, and referral to legal action or federal enforcement where applicable.
Applications & Forms
The City’s ADA page does not publish a dedicated permit or form specifically for website accessibility remediation; file complaints or requests via the ADA Coordinator contact methods listed on the City page.[1]
How compliance is evaluated
Many public entities in Utah reference WCAG 2.0 or WCAG 2.1 AA as the technical standard for web accessibility. Salt Lake City’s guidance points requestors to the City ADA Coordinator for interpretation and to the City’s IT resources for web standards and conformance assistance.[1]
Common Violations and Typical Responses
- Missing alt text on informative images — City remediation requests or required fixes.
- Poor keyboard navigation — required remediation planning and testing.
- Non-compliant forms and labels — ordered redesign or corrective timeline.
FAQ
- Do Salt Lake City ordinances require private websites to meet WCAG?
- Salt Lake City’s publicly posted ADA information addresses City services and websites; a city-level ordinance specifically requiring private websites to meet WCAG is not stated on the cited City ADA page.[1]
- How do I report an inaccessible City web page?
- Contact the City ADA Coordinator or the department that publishes the page using the contact methods on the City ADA page.[1]
- What standard should I follow for accessibility?
- Follow WCAG 2.1 AA as a practical target for broad compliance; consult the City ADA Coordinator for any public procurement or City-hosted site requirements.
How-To
- Run an automated accessibility scan (WCAG 2.1 AA) and save the report.
- Perform manual testing with keyboard navigation and a screen reader, and document failures.
- Create a remediation plan prioritizing public-facing pages and essential services.
- Estimate costs, seek procurement/contracting advice for vendors if needed, and set timelines.
- If the site serves Salt Lake City public clients, notify the City ADA Coordinator for guidance and to avoid enforcement escalation.[1]
Key Takeaways
- Contact the City ADA Coordinator early for City-facing sites.
- Combine automated and manual testing to verify WCAG conformance.
Help and Support / Resources
- Salt Lake City ADA Coordinator and contact
- Salt Lake City Code of Ordinances (municode)
- Salt Lake City Information Technology