State Law Summary
Federal ADA Requirements (Applies to Most Businesses)
Like every state, businesses in New Jersey must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The ADA sections that affect websites include:
- Title II — state and local government services
- Title III — private businesses open to the public
Under Title III, businesses that qualify as places of public accommodation must provide equal access to their goods and services. Courts increasingly interpret this obligation to include websites and digital services, especially when the website is connected to a physical location such as a store, restaurant, or medical office.
Businesses commonly affected include:
- restaurants
- retail stores
- hotels
- banks
- healthcare providers
- professional services.
The ADA does not specify a technical website standard, so courts and settlements typically use WCAG 2.0 or WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the practical benchmark for accessibility.
Website Compliance Rules
New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD)
The most important state law affecting accessibility is the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD).
This law prohibits disability discrimination in places of public accommodation and in services offered to the public. Because the law covers services provided by businesses, it can apply to digital services such as websites when inaccessible design prevents people with disabilities from accessing those services.
Key points about NJLAD:
- Applies to most businesses serving the public
- Allows monetary damages and attorney’s fees
- Can be enforced through lawsuits or complaints filed with the state.
Because the federal ADA only allows injunctive relief (orders to fix the website), plaintiffs often add NJLAD claims to pursue damages.
Damages & Penalties
Government Website Accessibility Requirements
State and local government websites in New Jersey must follow accessibility rules under federal and state policies.
In 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a rule clarifying accessibility requirements for government websites and mobile apps. The rule requires public entities to ensure web content complies with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA.
Compliance deadlines include:
- April 24, 2026 — governments serving populations over 50,000
- April 26, 2027 — smaller jurisdictions.
These rules apply to:
- state agencies
- county and municipal governments
- public schools
- public colleges and universities.
New Jersey School Website Accessibility Law
New Jersey has also passed specific legislation covering public school websites.
Under New Jersey Revised Statutes §18A:36-35.1, school districts, charter schools, and certain specialized schools must ensure that their websites and web services comply with WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility standards.
The law requires:
- certification that school websites meet accessibility guidelines
- periodic recertification to maintain compliance.
State Government Accessibility Policies
New Jersey has internal policies requiring state agencies to design websites that are accessible to people with disabilities.
State policy encourages agencies to follow Section 508 accessibility standards and apply recognized web accessibility techniques when building or updating websites.
These policies apply to:
- executive branch agencies
- government web services
- publicly available digital information.
ADA Website Lawsuits in New Jersey
Website accessibility lawsuits have increased in New Jersey in recent years.
These cases typically claim that:
- a website is incompatible with screen-reader software
- images lack alternative text
- navigation cannot be used with a keyboard
- forms or checkout systems are inaccessible.
Some law firms have filed dozens of accessibility lawsuits targeting businesses ranging from local retailers to major national brands.
Many cases settle before trial and require businesses to:
- remediate accessibility issues
- adopt WCAG compliance policies
- pay legal fees or settlements.
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