Birmingham Website Accessibility - Public Sector Regs

Civil Rights and Equity England 3 Minutes Read · published February 11, 2026 Flag of England

Birmingham, England public bodies must meet UK accessibility obligations for websites and mobile apps. This guide explains the legal basis, practical steps for compliance, where to publish an accessibility statement, and how residents can report accessibility problems to Birmingham City Council. It summarises official duties under the Public Sector Bodies accessibility Regulations and national guidance, highlights enforcement and appeal routes, and points to the council contact pages and national guidance for the exact regulatory text.[1]

Publish an accessibility statement and review it regularly.

Scope and Legal Basis

The primary legal instrument for website and app accessibility is the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018, supported by government guidance on accessibility requirements for public sector websites and apps.[1] Local implementation and complaint handling for Birmingham services is published on Birmingham City Council pages for accessibility and contact information.[3]

Key Requirements

  • Publish and maintain an accessibility statement for each public-facing website or app.
  • Ensure content meets WCAG 2.1 AA success criteria where indicated by the Regulations and guidance.
  • Provide accessible alternatives or a reasonable roadmap for content that is not yet accessible.
  • Offer a clear contact route for reporting accessibility issues and responding to individual requests.

Penalties & Enforcement

The Regulations set out compliance duties and enforcement mechanisms at national level; specific monetary fines or fixed penalty amounts are not specified on the cited national pages and guidance.[1] Local enforcement and complaint handling for Birmingham services is managed through council contact channels and the published accessibility information.[3]

  • Fine amounts: not specified on the cited page.
  • Escalation: first, repeat or continuing offence ranges are not specified on the cited page.
  • Non-monetary sanctions: compliance notices, requirements to publish corrections or to remedy accessibility failures are set out in the Regulations or guidance; specific local sanctions are not specified on the cited page.
  • Enforcer and complaints: national enforcement powers are in the Regulations and guidance, and local reporting routes use Birmingham City Council contact pages for service-specific complaints.[1][3]
  • Appeals and review: the Regulations describe review mechanisms; time limits for appeals are not specified on the cited page.
  • Defences and discretion: permissible defences such as reasonable excuse or planned remediation may be referenced in guidance; where exact text is required, consult the Regulations and official guidance.[2]
If you are enforcing or reporting, keep clear dated records of requests and responses.

Applications & Forms

There is no single national “accessibility permit” form required; the Regulations and government guidance do not publish a mandatory compliance form for public bodies. For Birmingham-specific reporting or enquiries use the council contact pages listed below.[2][3]

Practical Compliance Steps

  • Audit your website and apps against WCAG 2.1 AA using recognised tools and manual testing.
  • Publish an accessibility statement that explains non-compliant content, alternatives and a remediation timeline.
  • Create and keep records of accessibility fixes and correspondence with users who report issues.
  • Provide a clear contact route for complaints and requests, and respond within a reasonable time.
Document decisions and remediation timelines for transparency and enforcement response.

FAQ

Do Birmingham public sector websites have to follow the 2018 accessibility Regulations?
Yes; public sector bodies in England are covered by the Regulations and must publish accessibility statements and meet the standards indicated in the Regulations and government guidance.[1]
How do I report an accessibility problem with a Birmingham service?
Use the Birmingham City Council contact routes for the specific service or the accessibility contact details published on the council site; see Help and Support / Resources below.[3]
Are there fines for non-compliance?
Specific monetary penalties and ranges are not specified on the cited national pages; see the Regulations and guidance for enforcement mechanisms.[1]

How-To

  1. Run an accessibility audit against WCAG 2.1 AA and document results.
  2. Fix high-risk failures first and plan fixes for remaining issues with dates.
  3. Publish or update your accessibility statement with contact details and a remediation timeline.
  4. Provide a clear reporting route and log every complaint or request for reasonable adjustments.
  5. If enforcement follows, use the documented records to support appeals or reviews.

Key Takeaways

  • Publish and maintain an accessibility statement.
  • Audit against WCAG 2.1 AA and prioritise fixes.
  • Provide clear reporting routes and keep dated records.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 - legislation.gov.uk
  2. [2] Accessibility requirements for public sector websites and apps - GOV.UK
  3. [3] Birmingham City Council - Accessibility information

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