Short answer
If you have at least one employee in Ontario, the AODA applies to you in some form. The website requirement, WCAG 2.0 Level AA, applies to designated public sector organizations and to businesses and non-profits with 50 or more employees. Organizations with 20 or more employees must also file an accessibility compliance report every three years, with the next one due December 31, 2026.
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act covers a lot of ground, from customer service to hiring. What you have to do depends mostly on your size. This guide focuses on the part we know best: your website.
AODA website rules by organization size
| Your organization | Website must meet WCAG 2.0 AA? | Compliance report? |
|---|---|---|
| Business or non-profit, 1 to 19 employees | Not required, but encouraged | No |
| Business or non-profit, 20 to 49 employees | Not required, but encouraged | Yes, every 3 years |
| Business or non-profit, 50 or more employees | Yes | Yes, every 3 years |
| Designated public sector, any size | Yes | Yes, every 2 years |
How do I count employees?
Count employees in Ontario, including full-time, part-time and seasonal staff. If your head office is in another province or country but you have employees here, the Ontario count is what matters. If you are close to a threshold, it is worth getting advice on how your specific situation is counted.
What does "WCAG 2.0 Level AA" mean in plain English?
WCAG is the international standard for accessible web content. Level AA is the middle tier and the one most laws point to. In everyday terms it means that people can:
- Read your text, because the contrast is strong enough
- Understand your images, because they have descriptions
- Use every menu, form and button with a keyboard alone
- Navigate with a screen reader, because the page is structured properly
- Zoom in without the layout falling apart
The regulation makes two exceptions: live captions and pre-recorded audio descriptions.
Which websites are covered?
Public-facing websites and web content your organization controls, either directly or through a contract that lets you change it. Internal intranets are not covered by the website requirement for private sector organizations.
We have fewer than 50 employees. Should we bother?
We think so, for three reasons:
- You may grow into it. Fixing a site is easier and cheaper before the requirement applies than in a rush afterwards.
- The Human Rights Code applies at every size. Businesses of any size have a duty not to discriminate in providing services.
- It is good business. About one in four Ontarians lives with a disability, and accessible sites tend to be faster, clearer and better for search engines too.
What should I do next?
- Confirm your Ontario employee count.
- Check Ontario's guide to accessibility rules for businesses and non-profits (opens in a new tab).
- If the website requirement applies, or soon will, have your site tested by hand as well as by tools.
Curious what that costs? We break down pricing here.
Want to know where your site stands?
Send us your web address. We will test it by hand and reply with a fixed quote for real, code-level fixes. No overlay, no subscription.
This article is general information for Ontario organizations, not legal advice. For advice on your specific obligations, speak with a lawyer.