Colorado ADA Website Compliance Guide

🚨 Critical Deadline

April 24, 2026

Over 2,300 Colorado government websites must comply

🏔️ COLORADO: TECH HUB ENFORCEMENT EMERGING

2,364 Government Entities across Colorado face growing litigation pressure as the state becomes an emerging accessibility enforcement hub.

🎯 Denver Metro Concentration:
• Denver Public Schools: $58,000 settlement
• Jefferson County: $45,000 settlement
• Metro area contains 55% of state population and enforcement activity

💻 Tech Industry Influence: Colorado's booming tech sector (Denver, Boulder) creates sophisticated accessibility expectations. Tech workers familiar with WCAG standards are increasingly filing complaints against non-compliant government sites.

🌟 California Migration Factor: Significant California transplant population brings aggressive litigation expectations. Plaintiff attorneys from CA expanding into Colorado market.

⚖️ Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act: State law provides additional accessibility protections beyond federal ADA, creating dual-track enforcement risk similar to California's Unruh Act.

🏫 Education Sector Vulnerability: 178 school districts face heightened risk as Michigan-model complaint campaigns spread westward. Parent advocacy groups active in Denver metro.

📈 2026 Outlook: Expect 30-40% lawsuit increase as deadline approaches. Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora entities should treat compliance as urgent priority. Document your good faith efforts now.

Colorado by the Numbers

5.8 million

Population

2364

Government Entities

14

Recent ADA Lawsuits

$$42,000

Average Settlement

Who Must Comply in Colorado?

  • 64 counties - All county government websites
  • 272 cities and towns - Municipal websites and portals
  • 178 school districts - K-12 education websites
  • 1850 special districts - Water, fire, parks, libraries

Colorado-Specific Requirements

Colorado HB 21-1110 and SB 23-244 mandate WCAG 2.1 AA for state and local government including K-12 institutions. State compliance deadline of July 1, 2025 has already passed — non-compliance is a civil rights violation under Colorado law.

Recent Colorado ADA Lawsuit Cases

Colorado HB 21-1110: State-level WCAG 2.1 AA mandate took effect July 1, 2025 — non-compliance is a civil rights violation

Smith v. Denver Public Schools (2024) - $58,000 settlement

Williams v. Jefferson County (2023) - $45,000 settlement

Major Colorado Cities Affected

Large entities (50,000+ population) must comply by April 24, 2026:

  • Denver
  • Colorado Springs
  • Aurora
  • Fort Collins
  • Lakewood

Test Your Colorado Website's Compliance

Don't wait for a lawsuit. Check your accessibility score now.

Free ADA Compliance Scan →