California Web Accessibility Laws: ADA, Unruh Act & AB 434 Explained

California website accessibility is subject to both federal and state-level web accessibility laws, and the consequences of non-compliance are among the strictest in the US. The Unruh Civil Rights Act(opens in a new tab) alone exposes businesses to $4,000 in statutory damages per violation, and Unruh Act filings in California(opens in a new tab) exceeded 3,000 as of June 2024.

Understanding which laws apply to your organization, what they require, and how they interact is the first step toward reducing that exposure. This page covers each California law, which organizations must comply, and the technical standard you need to meet.

California Accessibility Laws: Quick Reference Table

	ADA Title III	ADA Title II	Unruh Act	Section 508	AB 434	AB 1757
Who It Applies To	Private businesses open to the public, including most commercial websites	State and local government entities, including California agencies, counties, and municipalities	All businesses offering goods or services to the public in California; ADA non-compliance automatically triggers Unruh liability	Federal agencies, California state and local agencies receiving federal funding, and federal contractors	California state executive branch agencies only; it does not apply to local government or private businesses	Would have applied to all businesses and third-party web developers serving California consumers
Compliance Standard	WCAG 2.1 Level AA (per DOJ final rule, April 2024)	WCAG 2.1 Level AA (per DOJ final rule, April 2024)	WCAG 2.1 Level AA (mirrors ADA standard)	WCAG 2.1 Level AA (2017 refresh)	WCAG 2.0 Level AA (or later version)	Would have required WCAG 2.1 Level AA
Enforcement	Private lawsuits; DOJ enforcement	DOJ enforcement; private lawsuits	Private lawsuits in California state court	Federal agency oversight; complaints to the Access Board	State agency oversight; an annual signed certification is required on the homepage	Would have created private right of action against businesses and developers
Key Risk	High Federal litigation; injunctive relief and attorney fees	High Federal compliance deadlines are now in effect for larger entities	High $4,000 statutory damages per violation, plus attorney fees; no cap on violations	Medium Loss of federal funding; procurement disqualification	Medium Non-compliance with certification requirements; state audit exposure	Expired Bill expired end of 2023–24 session; not currently law

What Is ADA Website Compliance in California?

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) website compliance in California requires that websites be accessible to people with disabilities. California businesses must adhere to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines(opens in a new tab) (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards as interpreted by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

More simply, businesses, government agencies, and other organizations operating in California must ensure their websites are navigable for users with visual, auditory, cognitive, or physical disabilities or impairments.

These standards are outlined in Title II and Title III of the ADA. While the ADA is a federal law that all states must abide by, California law has specific website accessibility requirements that build on the ADA to further accessibility in the state.

What are the Web Accessibility Laws in California?

California is one of the most advanced states in the U.S. when it comes to ensuring equal rights for people of all physical abilities. California has supplemented federal laws (Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and the ADA) with its own state-level legislation to prevent discrimination against individuals with disabilities.

We’ll cover each of California’s web accessibility laws in more detail below.

What Is Section 508?

Section 508 is a federal law that requires all electronic and information technology (EIT) developed, procured, maintained, or used by federal agencies to be accessible to individuals with disabilities.

In California, Section 508 compliance extends beyond federal agencies. State and local governments (and public sector organizations) that receive federal funding are expected to meet the same Section 508 standards.

What Is the Unruh Civil Rights Act?

The Unruh Civil Rights Act (California Civil Code §51(opens in a new tab)) is a California state law that entitles all persons to full and equal accommodations from all business establishments, regardless of disability.

Because the act adopted ADA standards in 1992, ADA non-compliance automatically equals Unruh non-compliance — a position California courts have consistently upheld. Businesses found in violation face $4,000 in statutory damages per violation, plus attorney fees.

For full details on enforcement, case law, and damages, see our Unruh Civil Rights Act guide.

What Is California Assembly Bill 434?

California AB 434 is a state law requiring all California executive branch agency websites to conform to WCAG 2.0 Level AA, or a subsequent version. Under AB 434, each agency must display a signed certification on its homepage confirming its digital content meets that standard. The law applies to state executive branch agencies only and does not extend to local government or private businesses.

AB 434 and Title II of the ADA in California

State agencies are also subject to Title II of the ADA, which applies to all state and local government entities nationwide and uses WCAG 2.1 Level AA as its compliance benchmark.

What Is California AB 1757?

California AB 1757(opens in a new tab),(opens in a new tab) also known as the Accessibility for All Californians Act, expired at the end of the 2023–24 legislative session without passing into law. The bill would have required all websites and mobile apps providing goods or services to California consumers to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA, and would have extended liability to third-party developers building inaccessible digital products. It is not currently a law. However, California businesses remain subject to the ADA, the Unruh Civil Rights Act, and, where applicable, AB 434 and Section 508.

Who Does California Web Accessibility Apply To?

California web accessibility compliance applies to most businesses, federal contractors, and government agencies operating in the state. The ADA applies to most websites operating in California, but state law adds additional obligations depending on your organization's type.

The table below provides a more detailed look at who is responsible for specific compliance laws in California.

Organization Type	Laws that Apply	Compliance Standard
Private Businesses	ADA Title III, Unruh Civil Rights Act	WCAG 2.1 Level AA. ADA non-compliance automatically triggers Unruh liability.
State and Local Government Agencies	ADA Title II, AB 434, Section 508	WCAG 2.1 Level AA (Title II and Section 508); WCAG 2.0 Level AA minimum for AB 434 (state executive agencies only).
Federal Contractors in California	Section 508	WCAG 2.1 Level AA for an electronic and information technology developed or procured under a federal contract.
Businesses with California State Contracts	Section 508	WCAG 2.1 Level AA for digital products and services delivered under the contract.

What is the Risk of Non-Compliance?

Accessibility lawsuits in California have risen steadily, with Unruh Act filings exceeding 3,000(opens in a new tab) in 2025. Each violation carries $4,000 in statutory damages, plus attorney fees, and that's before accounting for the time and cost of defending a lawsuit. For a full breakdown of penalties and enforcement, see our ADA compliance fines guide.

For government agencies, noncompliance with Title II of the ADA, Section 508, or AB 434 risks loss of federal funding, procurement disqualification, and audit exposure.

How Can I Make My Website Compliant with California Accessibility Laws?

Since all California web accessibility laws use WCAG 2.0/2.1 Level AA as the technical benchmark, following this standard can help ensure your website is compliant with all California accessibility standards.

Some of the WCAG 2.0/2.1 Level AA success criteria include:

Adding alt text to all non-text content, including images, graphs, charts, etc.
Including captions and transcripts for all audio and video content.
Ensuring good color contrast between foreground and background elements.
Ensuring compatibility with assistive technology, including screen readers.
Ensuring keyboard-only navigation across all web pages.

Assessing your website against the four principles of WCAG requires ongoing testing, not just at launch, but whenever content or structure changes. Free tools can surface common issues, but many WCAG success criteria require human judgment. Accessibility experts catch what automation might miss.

For a full breakdown of success criteria, use a free ADA compliance checklist to see how well your site meets WCAG standards. Or see where your current content stands with a free accessibility scan.

Make Compliance with California Laws Easy

California has some of the strictest web accessibility laws in the US, combining federal requirements under the ADA and Section 508 with state-level obligations under the Unruh Civil Rights Act and AB 434. Every organization operating in California faces a distinct set of compliance requirements, and the consequences of falling short range from $4,000 in statutory damages per Unruh Act violation to federal funding loss for government agencies.

AudioEye makes meeting those requirements straightforward.

Our platform combines AI-driven automation, expert audits from accessibility experts and the disability community, and ongoing monitoring to ensure your website stays compliant over time. For organizations managing Unruh Act exposure, AudioEye Assurance provides legal protection coverage that is up to 400% more effective than automation-only approaches.

GET STARTED

Ready to start your path to more accessible and compliant digital content?

Get started with a free accessibility scan. Or schedule a demo to see exactly how AudioEye can help you meet California accessibility standards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the ADA apply to websites in California?

What is the Unruh Civil Rights Act, and how does it apply to websites?

Does my California website need to be WCAG compliant?

What is California AB 434, and who does it apply to?

What happens if my website is not accessible in California?

California accessibility compliance, explained