Public sector websites and apps in the United Kingdom have their own accessibility regulations, separate from the Equality Act but enforced through it.

The regulations came into force on 23 September 2018.

These Regulations come into force on 23rd September 2018. SI 2018/952, regulation 1(2), Made 29 August 2018, revised text.

They set one accessibility requirement: that a website or app be perceivable, operable, understandable and robust.

by making it perceivable, operable, understandable and robust SI 2018/952, regulation 3, definition of accessibility requirement, Made 29 August 2018, revised text.

Public sector bodies must meet that requirement, subject to the disproportionate burden rule.

Subject to regulation 7, public sector bodies must comply with the accessibility requirement. SI 2018/952, regulation 6, Made 29 August 2018, revised text.

A public sector body includes the state, regional or local authorities, bodies governed by public law, and associations of these formed to meet needs in the general interest.

those associations are established for the specific purpose of meeting needs in the general interest SI 2018/952, regulation 3, definition of public sector body, Made 29 August 2018, revised text.

Public service broadcasters and their subsidiaries are outside the regulations.

public service broadcasters and their subsidiaries SI 2018/952, regulation 4(1)(a), Made 29 August 2018, revised text.

Non-governmental organisations are outside them unless they provide services essential to the public or aimed at disabled people.

non-governmental organisations, unless they provide services that SI 2018/952, regulation 4(1)(b), Made 29 August 2018, revised text.

Schools and nurseries are outside them except for content relating to essential online administrative functions.

schools or nurseries, except for the content of their websites or mobile applications SI 2018/952, regulation 4(1)(c), Made 29 August 2018, revised text.

The government's guidance adds that all UK service providers, whether covered by these regulations or not, have a separate duty to make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010, or the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 in Northern Ireland.

All UK service providers have a legal obligation to make reasonable adjustments GOV.UK, Understanding accessibility requirements for public sector bodies, When you may be exempt, Last updated 30 September 2024.

Office documents such as PDFs published before 23 September 2018 are exempt, unless needed for active administrative processes.

office file formats published before 23rd September 2018, unless such content is needed SI 2018/952, regulation 4(2)(a), Made 29 August 2018, revised text.

Pre-recorded audio and video published before 23 September 2020 is exempt, and so is live audio and video.

pre-recorded time-based media published before 23rd September 2020 SI 2018/952, regulation 4(2)(b) and (c), Made 29 August 2018, revised text.

Third-party content that the body neither funds, develops nor controls is exempt.

third-party content that is neither funded nor developed by, nor under the control of SI 2018/952, regulation 4(2)(e), Made 29 August 2018, revised text.

Intranet and extranet content published before 23 September 2019 is exempt until the site undergoes a substantial revision.

until such websites undergo a substantial revision SI 2018/952, regulation 4(2)(g), Made 29 August 2018, revised text.

Websites published on or after 23 September 2018 were covered after 22 September 2019.

published on or after 23rd September 2018, after 22nd September 2019 SI 2018/952, regulation 5(a), Made 29 August 2018, revised text.

Older websites were covered after 22 September 2020, and mobile apps after 22 June 2021.

for a mobile application of a public sector body, after 22nd June 2021 SI 2018/952, regulation 5(b) and (c), Made 29 August 2018, revised text.

A site or app is presumed to meet the requirement to the extent it meets WCAG Level A and AA success criteria, as amended from time to time.

Guidelines recommended by the World Wide Web Consortium, as amended from time to time SI 2018/952, regulation 9, Made 29 August 2018, as amended 26 October 2022.

The government's guidance names WCAG 2.2 Level AA.

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA accessibility standard GOV.UK, Understanding accessibility requirements for public sector bodies, Meeting accessibility requirements, Last updated 30 September 2024.

The requirement does not apply where meeting it would impose a disproportionate burden on the body.

if doing so would impose a disproportionate burden on the public sector body SI 2018/952, regulation 7(1), Made 29 August 2018, revised text.

The body must carry out an assessment, weighing its size, resources and nature and the costs and benefits, including the benefit to disabled users.

the size, resources and nature of the public sector body SI 2018/952, regulation 7(3), Made 29 August 2018, revised text.

If it relies on the burden, it must explain in its accessibility statement which parts of the requirement it could not meet.

explain in its accessibility statement the parts of the accessibility requirement SI 2018/952, regulation 7(4)(a), Made 29 August 2018, revised text.

A failure to meet the accessibility requirement is treated as a failure to make a reasonable adjustment under equality law.

is to be treated as a failure to make a reasonable adjustment SI 2018/952, regulation 12(1), Made 29 August 2018, revised text.

The enforcement bodies are the Equality and Human Rights Commission for Great Britain and the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.

the Equality and Human Rights Commission SI 2018/952, regulation 11, Made 29 August 2018, revised text.

Anyone may tell a body its site falls short, and may complain to the enforcement body if the response is missing or unsatisfactory.

that person may complain to the applicable enforcement body SI 2018/952, regulation 13(4), Made 29 August 2018, revised text.

The government monitors public sector websites and apps and must publish a report on the results every three years.

and every three years thereafter SI 2018/952, regulation 10(2), Made 29 August 2018, as amended 26 October 2022.

If a body cannot show its accessibility statement meets the rules, and a review does not change that, the government must publish the body's name and the determination.

must publish the name of the public sector body and the determination SI 2018/952, regulation 14(12), Made 29 August 2018, revised text.