The verdict in three sentences
In France, websites of local authorities and public bodies are subject to a legal accessibility obligation under article 47 of the 2005 law, with an enforceable RGAA 4.1 framework. In 2026, budget EUR 3,000-8,000 for a full audit, EUR 1,500-3,000 for the multi-year plan and action plan, and EUR 5,000-20,000 for fixes. The absence of a compliant statement exposes the body to an administrative fine of up to EUR 50,000 per online service.
Public sector-specific obligations
Unlike the private sector, public bodies must publish three visible items: a detailed accessibility statement, a 3-year multi-year accessibility plan, and an annual action plan. The RGAA conformance rate must be displayed on the homepage, marked "fully / partially / not compliant".
| Obligation | Content | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility statement | Rate, exemptions, contact | Published continuously |
| Multi-year plan | 3-year strategy | Annual update |
| Annual action plan | Yearly actions | Every year |
| Homepage notice | Compliance status | Permanent |
| RGAA audit | 106 criteria, 4 methods | Before statement |
2026 pricing by tier (EUR, ex. VAT)
Cost depends on the number of pages, the presence of e-services (online procedures), and office documents (PDFs). Here are 2026 ballpark figures for a medium-sized authority.
| Service | 2026 price (EUR ex. VAT) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Full RGAA audit (expanded sample) | 3,000 - 8,000 | 2-4 weeks |
| Multi-year plan + action plan | 1,500 - 3,000 | 1-2 weeks |
| Brochure site fixes | 5,000 - 10,000 | 4-8 weeks |
| E-service + PDF fixes | 10,000 - 20,000 | 6-12 weeks |
| Final verification audit | 1,500 - 3,000 | 1 week |
| Full program | 11,000 - 34,000 | 3-5 months |
Mini case study
Ms Fall, head of digital communication at a town hall serving 40,000 residents, must bring a 120-page site with 8 e-services into compliance. The full RGAA audit is billed at EUR 6,500 and reveals an initial conformance rate of 41%. The multi-year plan (EUR 2,400) and fixes (EUR 16,000) bring the site to 92% conformance in 4 months. A total of EUR 24,900, a budget that averts the EUR 50,000 fine and secures access to procedures for disabled users, roughly 15% of the population.
FAQ
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Are all local authorities covered?
Yes, regardless of size, along with public institutions and delegated public service operators. The obligation covers websites, intranets, extranets, and mobile apps.
What does a non-compliant authority risk?
An administrative fine of up to EUR 50,000 per non-compliant online service, issued by ARCOM, plus litigation and reputational risk.
How long does public sector compliance take?
Expect 3 to 5 months for a full program including audit, plan, fixes, and verification. E-services and PDFs extend the timeline.
Is an automated audit enough for RGAA?
No. RGAA requires manual testing across 106 criteria using 4 methods (visual, code, content, technologies). Automated tools cover only about 30% of criteria.
Are PDF documents covered?
Yes. Published PDFs (minutes, forms) must be accessible or offered as an HTML alternative. This is often the most expensive fix item.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your page count, whether you have e-services and PDFs, and your regulatory deadline; we will scope an RGAA audit (EUR 3,000-8,000) and a compliance program. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
