The verdict in three sentences
For a mid-sized public website, bringing it into line with WCAG 2.1 AA (RGAA 4.1 in France) costs between 10,000 and 35,000 EUR all in for 2026: audit, fixes, training and statement. The most underestimated item is editor training, because a fixed website slides back into non-compliance within months if every news post adds images without alt text and inaccessible PDFs. A 50,000 EUR penalty per non-compliant service in France makes doing nothing more expensive than the project.
The legal framework in 2026
Public-sector websites in the EU have been covered by the Web Accessibility Directive since 2016. The European Accessibility Act, applicable since 28 June 2025, extends obligations to private services such as e-commerce, banking, transport and e-books. In France, public bodies must publish three documents: an up-to-date accessibility statement, a three-year multi-year accessibility plan and an annual action plan, with a compliance mention on the homepage.
| Obligation | Deadline or frequency | Risk if missing |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility statement | Updated at each audit, at least every 3 years | Fine up to 50,000 EUR (France) |
| Homepage mention | Permanent | Complaint to the Ombudsman |
| Multi-year plan | Every 3 years | Fine up to 50,000 EUR (France) |
| Annual action plan | Every year | Inconsistency flagged at inspection |
| Contact channel to report issues | Permanent | User complaints |
| Audit on a representative sample | At least once per cycle | Statement not admissible |
In France the fine can be renewed every six months while the breach persists. EAA penalties for private operators are set nationally and vary widely across member states.
What each step costs in 2026
The amounts below are 2026 orders of magnitude seen in public tenders in eastern France and in independent auditor quotes; Western European WCAG audits fall in similar ranges.
| Step | Small town, 30 pages | Mid-sized city, 300 pages | Metropolitan multi-service portal |
|---|---|---|---|
| WCAG / RGAA 4.1 audit, 106 criteria | 2,500 to 3,500 EUR | 4,000 to 6,000 EUR | 6,000 to 8,000 EUR |
| Theme and template fixes | 3,000 to 6,000 EUR | 8,000 to 15,000 EUR | 15,000 to 25,000 EUR |
| Remediation of existing PDFs | 500 to 1,500 EUR | 2,000 to 6,000 EUR | 5,000 to 15,000 EUR |
| Editor training, 1 to 2 days | 900 to 1,400 EUR | 1,400 to 2,800 EUR | 2,800 to 5,000 EUR |
| Re-audit after fixes | 1,000 to 1,500 EUR | 1,500 to 2,500 EUR | 2,500 to 4,000 EUR |
| Indicative total | 7,900 to 13,900 EUR | 16,900 to 32,300 EUR | 31,300 to 57,000 EUR |
Fixes concentrate on templates: a corrected header, menu or form fixes the defect on every page. That is why the audit should target a sample of 15 to 25 representative pages rather than the whole site.
The defects that cost the most to fix
In public website audits, five defect families absorb most of the remediation budget: insufficient brand colour contrast, menus that cannot be used with a keyboard, forms without labels or explicit error messages, interactive maps and carousels without alternatives, and untagged scanned PDFs. When the CMS itself outputs non-compliant code, rebuilding the theme is sometimes cheaper than piling up patches.
Mini case study
Marc, digital director of a 45,000-inhabitant group of municipalities near Strasbourg, starts from a website marked non-compliant with a 38% score. He budgets a 5,000 EUR audit, 12,000 EUR of template fixes, 3,500 EUR to remediate the most viewed PDFs, 2,000 EUR of training for 12 editors and a 2,000 EUR re-audit, for a total of 24,500 EUR.
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Against the risk, the maths is simple: two non-compliant online services expose the authority to 100,000 EUR of potential fines per half-year. The site reaches 82% compliance in five months, the statement becomes partially compliant and the multi-year plan schedules the family portal rebuild to reach 100%.
FAQ
Can the audit be done in-house?
Yes, if a staff member is trained in the method, which takes 3 to 5 days of training at 1,500 to 2,500 EUR. For a first statement, an external auditor is still advisable because the organisation is accountable for its accuracy.
Is a 75% compliance score enough?
No. Below 100%, a site is partially compliant from 50% of criteria met. It must then list exemptions and publish a credible action plan.
How long does remediation take?
Plan 3 to 6 months for a mid-sized city: 3 to 4 weeks of audit, 6 to 12 weeks of fixes, then a re-audit. Legacy PDFs can take up to 12 months.
Do we need to rebuild the website entirely?
Only if the CMS or theme creates structural defects. An accessible-by-design rebuild costs 15 to 25% more than a standard one, but avoids fixes of 10,000 EUR or more later.
Are sub-sites and apps in scope?
Yes, each online service needs its own accessibility statement, including mobile apps and e-government portals.
Let's scope your project. Send us your latest audit or your website URL, and we will price the fixes, training and timeline to reach a credible accessibility statement. 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.
