Section 504 rule, web content and mobile apps of recipients of HHS financial assistance

45 CFR 84.84 to 84.89

An accessibility requirements rule binding public and private bodies.

Private right of action: Yes
Conformance standard: WCAG 2.1 AA

As of 30 October 2026.

What it requires

This rule does not yet bind: its web content and mobile app requirements apply from May 11, 2027 to a recipient with fifteen or more employees and from May 10, 2028 to a recipient with fewer than fifteen (45 CFR 84.84(b)).
If you receive Federal financial assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services, ensure that the web content and mobile apps you provide or make available, directly or through contractual, licensing, or other arrangements, are readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities (45 CFR 84.84(a)).
From May 11, 2027, if you have fifteen or more employees, make that web content and those mobile apps conform to Level A and Level AA of WCAG 2.1; the date was May 11, 2026 before the 2026 interim final rule (45 CFR 84.84(b)(1)).
From May 10, 2028, if you have fewer than fifteen employees, make that web content and those mobile apps conform to Level A and Level AA of WCAG 2.1; the date was May 10, 2027 before the 2026 interim final rule (45 CFR 84.84(b)(2)).
You need not conform where you can demonstrate that compliance would fundamentally alter the nature of a program or activity or impose undue financial and administrative burdens, and the decision must be made by the head of the recipient or a designee and accompanied by a written statement of reasons (45 CFR 84.88).
Archived web content, preexisting conventional electronic documents not currently used to apply for or take part in your programs, third-party content you did not post by arrangement, and preexisting social media posts are excepted (45 CFR 84.85).

These lines are LexLint's reading of the law's text, as of 30 October 2026.

What this law does

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Research summary

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A recipient of Federal financial assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services must ensure that the web content and mobile apps it provides or makes available, directly or through contractual, licensing, or other arrangements, are readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities.

The standard is Level A and Level AA of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1, unless the recipient shows that compliance would fundamentally alter a program or activity or impose undue financial and administrative burdens. A 2026 interim final rule extended the compliance date for a recipient with fifteen or more employees from May 11, 2026 to May 11, 2027. The same rule extended the date for a recipient with fewer than fifteen employees from May 10, 2027 to May 10, 2028.

Regardless of the compliance dates, recipients have an ongoing obligation to ensure that their programs and activities offered using web content and mobile apps are accessible to individuals with disabilities in accordance with their other obligations under section 504. A recipient includes a public or private agency, institution, organization, or other entity to which Federal financial assistance is extended.

The rule excepts archived web content, preexisting conventional electronic documents and content posted by a third party, among other things. The Department has said it plans to engage in future rulemaking related to the substantive requirements of the 2024 rule.

When LexLint raises it

When your app profile says your app ships a consumer interface or ships a mobile app.

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