October 9, 2026

RGAA legal obligation: who must comply with French accessibility rules?

The RGAA legal obligation requires many organizations to make their digital services accessible to people with disabilities. Defined by Article 47 of the French law of February 11, 2005, this legal requirement goes beyond state administrations. It also applies to specific private sector entities and covers a wide range of digital formats, from websites to mobile applications. Here are the exact criteria to determine regarding the RGAA legal obligation who must comply with the rules published by the DINUM.

RGAA legal obligation who must comply: public sector bodies

Public law entities represent the primary group targeted by the French accessibility law. This category includes the State, local authorities, and their dependent public establishments.

The obligation also applies to private law entities delegated with a public service mission. Organizations created to meet general non-commercial interest needs fall into this scope if they meet one of the following conditions:

Their activity is primarily financed by public entities.
Their management is subject to the control of public entities.
More than half of their board of directors or supervisory board members are appointed by the public sector.

Which private companies must apply the RGAA?

The standard private sector is not exempt from digital accessibility rules. Large companies are required to comply as soon as they reach a specific financial threshold defined by the legislation.

This threshold is set at 250 million euros in turnover. This amount is calculated for each legal entity based on the average annual turnover generated in France during the last three closed financial years.

What digital content is covered by the accessibility requirements?

Online public communication services refer to any provision of information by electronic means that does not constitute private correspondence. Once an organization is subject to the law, it must make these platforms compliant with the European standard EN 301 549 V2.1.2.

This requirement covers websites, intranets, and extranets. It also applies to the following digital elements:

Software packages used through a web browser or a mobile application.
Mobile applications designed for smartphones and tablets.
The applicative or interactive part of digital street furniture.

What content is exempt from the French accessibility regulations?

The law provides exceptions for certain types of files or media that do not have to be made accessible. For example, live video broadcasts or third-party content neither funded nor controlled by the organization are out of scope.

Online maps are also exempt, provided that essential routing information is supplied in an accessible digital format. Other elements benefit from an exemption based on their publication date:

Office files published before September 23, 2018, unless they are necessary for an administrative process.
Pre-recorded audio and video content published before September 23, 2020.
Intranet and extranet content published before September 23, 2019, until they undergo a major revision.
Archives and content not updated after September 23, 2019.

How to justify a disproportionate burden derogation?

It is sometimes reasonably impossible to make a feature accessible without compromising the public service mission or the economic objectives of the organization. In this situation, a disproportionate burden derogation can be invoked on a case-by-case basis.

A lack of time, a lack of priority, or a lack of knowledge never constitute valid justifications. To evaluate this burden, the entity must estimate the costs against the benefits for disabled users, considering these criteria:

The size, resources, and nature of the organization.
The budget, subsidies, mandatory expenses, and payroll.
The investment expenses, operating expenses, and required working time.

What mandatory statements must be displayed on your website?

The homepage of an online service must display its compliance status. This statement indicates whether the accessibility is fully compliant, partially compliant (at least 50% of the criteria met), or non-compliant.

The website must also feature a dedicated accessibility page, reachable from any page. It gathers the official documents required by the law:

The accessibility statement detailing the evaluation results.
The multi-year accessibility scheme.
The action plan for the current year.

Frequently asked questions

When should the accessibility statement be updated?

The statement must be updated during a substantial modification or a website redesign. It must also be renewed three years after its publication, or 18 months after the release of a new version of the technical framework.

Are non-profit associations subject to the RGAA?

Private non-profit organizations are not concerned unless they provide essential services to the public. They are also subject to the law if they offer services specifically meeting the needs of disabled people.

What is the legal timeframe to answer a user complaint?

The organization must respond to any accessibility-related complaint within one week. If the request raises complex questions, the response must indicate a reasonable timeframe for the final processing.

Does a derogation exempt the organization from providing the service?

No, inaccessible content due to a disproportionate burden must be accompanied by an alternative. If the service concerns a main public service mission, this equivalent alternative is mandatory.

Which technical standard serves as the legal reference?

Online services are considered compliant if they meet the European standard EN 301 549 V2.1.2. For private companies opting for international standards, this corresponds to the WCAG 2.1 criteria at Level A and Level AA.

Sources

This article relies on the official sources listed at the end of the page.