Edinburgh Accessibility Rules for Council Websites

Civil Rights and Equity Scotland 3 Minutes Read · published February 12, 2026 Flag of Scotland

The City of Edinburgh requires its council websites to follow UK accessibility law and published standards to ensure services are usable for all residents in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 set the legal baseline and require public bodies to meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards and publish an accessibility statement[1].

Scope & Standards

The regulations apply to most public sector websites and mobile apps; they require regular accessibility audits, remedial plans and a published accessibility statement showing compliance and known exceptions. The City of Edinburgh Council publishes its accessibility statement and a contact route for accessibility problems on its website[2].

If you cannot use a council service because of accessibility, report it using the council's accessibility contact.

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement and remedies for non-compliance under the Regulations are not set out as fixed monetary fines on the primary statutory page; specific penalty amounts are not specified on the cited legislation page[1]. Local enforcement and remedies depend on administrative and legal routes described by the regulations and by the council.

  • Fine amounts: not specified on the cited page; the Regulations do not list fixed penalties for website breaches[1].
  • Escalation: first, continuing and repeat breach procedures are not itemised as guaranteed fine bands on the Regulations page; see the cited source for procedure details[1].
  • Non-monetary sanctions: orders to remedy access issues, court review and judicial remedies are possible where legal challenge is brought; the Regulations reference compliance duties but specific sanctions are not listed on the cited page[1].
  • Enforcer and inspection: responsibility for compliance sits with the relevant public body; for Edinburgh the council's published accessibility contact manages reports and remedial action[2].
  • Complaints and reporting: users should report accessibility faults via the City of Edinburgh Council accessibility contact on the council site[2].
  • Appeals and review: the Regulations do not set a single statutory appeal tribunal or fixed time limits on the legislation page; legal challenge and administrative review routes may apply and are not specified on the cited page[1].
Council accessibility statements show how to report issues and request alternatives.

Applications & Forms

The Regulations do not require a specific central form to be filed to prove compliance; local councils publish accessibility statements and contact routes rather than a universal application form. If no dedicated form is published, use the council contact in its accessibility statement[2].

Common Violations and Practical Remedies

  • Missing alt text on images — typically remedied by updating content management entries.
  • Poor contrast or unreadable text — remedied by CSS fixes and design review.
  • Uncaptioned video or inaccessible documents — provide captions and accessible document versions.
  • Broken keyboard navigation — code fixes and automated testing are common remedies.

Action Steps for Residents and Officers

  • Audit: request or consult the council accessibility statement and audit results.
  • Report: use the council's published accessibility contact to report issues or request alternatives[2].
  • Escalate: if unresolved, seek internal review or legal advice about administrative or judicial remedies; the Regulations page does not list fixed appeal deadlines[1].
  • Pay or remedy: for organisations, allocate budget to fix priority WCAG 2.1 AA issues and publish progress in the accessibility statement.

FAQ

Who must comply with the accessibility Regulations?
Most public sector bodies, including the City of Edinburgh Council, must comply with the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018 and meet WCAG 2.1 AA where applicable.
How do I report an inaccessible council web page?
Report the issue via the contact method listed in the City of Edinburgh Council accessibility statement on the council website[2].
Are there set fines for non-compliance?
The Regulations do not specify fixed monetary fines on the cited legislation page; enforcement and remedies depend on administrative and legal processes described by the law[1].

How-To

  1. Identify inaccessible pages using automated testing and manual checks against WCAG 2.1 AA.
  2. Publish or review the accessibility statement and list known exceptions on the council site.
  3. Create a prioritized remediation plan with timelines and responsible officers.
  4. Provide reasonable alternatives and contact routes for users affected by inaccessible content.
  5. Monitor progress, update the accessibility statement and retest regularly.

Key Takeaways

  • Edinburgh council websites must follow the 2018 Accessibility Regulations and WCAG 2.1 AA standards.
  • Report accessibility faults via the council's published accessibility contact.

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