Florida ADA Website Compliance Guide

🚨 Critical Deadline

April 24, 2026

Over 2,100 Florida government websites must comply

🌴 FLORIDA: NOW #2 NATIONALLY FOR ADA LAWSUITS

1,823 federal ADA lawsuits filed in Florida in 2025 — surpassing New York to become the second-highest litigation state nationally (Seyfarth Shaw 2025 Annual Report). Florida's surge reflects plaintiffs shifting away from New York federal courts after stricter standing requirements.

💸 Documented Government Settlements:
• Miami-Dade County: $78,000 (2024)
• Orange County Schools: $68,000 (2023)
• Tampa: $59,000 (2024)
• Earlier cases: Orange County $19,000, Palm Beach Clerk $9,500, Martin County $16,000

🎯 Serial Plaintiff Activity: A legally blind Miami resident has filed 200+ lawsuits systematically targeting government agencies across Florida and nationwide for website accessibility violations.

📊 DOJ Title II Final Rule: April 2024 regulations require WCAG 2.1 AA compliance by April 24, 2026 for entities serving 50,000+. Florida's 2,169 government entities face clear federal mandate.

💰 Federal Penalties: ADA violations carry $75,000 fines for first offense, $150,000 for subsequent violations - plus settlement costs and legal fees averaging $38,000 in FL.

⚖️ Legal Precedent Set: Florida's Fourth Appellate District established clear ADA website enforcement standards. Following DOJ's 2024 final rule, non-compliance is legally indefensible for government entities.

Florida by the Numbers

22.6 million

Population

2169

Government Entities

1823

Recent ADA Lawsuits

$$42,000

Average Settlement

Who Must Comply in Florida?

  • 67 counties - All county government websites
  • 412 cities and towns - Municipal websites and portals
  • 67 school districts - K-12 education websites
  • 1623 special districts - Water, fire, parks, libraries

Florida-Specific Requirements

Florida Statutes require accessibility compliance for all state and local government digital services.

Recent Florida ADA Lawsuit Cases

Seyfarth Shaw 2025 Annual Report: 1,823 federal ADA filings in FL (moved to #2 nationally, surpassing New York)

Gonzalez v. Miami-Dade County (2024) - $78,000 settlement

Anderson v. Orange County Schools (2023) - $68,000 settlement

Clark v. Tampa (2024) - $59,000 settlement

Major Florida Cities Affected

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

  • Jacksonville
  • Miami
  • Tampa
  • Orlando
  • St. Petersburg

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