A practical, local guide for Toronto and Greater Toronto Area businesses staring down the December 31, 2026 AODA deadline.
Why Toronto businesses are squarely in scope
The GTA is dense with exactly the organizations the AODA targets: retailers and e-commerce brands, professional-services firms, clinics, agencies, manufacturers, and B2B distributors — many in the 20–250 employee band where obligations bite. If that's you, this deadline is yours.
What applies to you (quick version)
- 20+ employees: file an Accessibility Compliance Report by Dec 31, 2026.
- 50+ employees: the above plus your public website must meet WCAG 2.0 AA, with documented policies and a multi-year plan.
- Any size: exposure under the Ontario Human Rights Code (the real lawsuit path, via the HRTO) — no employee minimum.
Full breakdown in our AODA hub guide.
What it costs locally
Toronto-area audits typically run $1,500–$5,000 for small-to-mid sites; remediation scales with scope. Detailed cost guide. And many GTA businesses can fund the work through CSBFP or CanExport.
Skip the widget
A lot of GTA businesses installed an "accessibility widget" and assumed they were covered. After the FTC's $1M fine against accessiBe and 456 widget-equipped sites sued in H1 2025, that assumption is expensive. Here's why overlays don't hold up.
How to get compliant (and stay that way)
- Audit to WCAG 2.2 AA (automated + manual).
- Remediate the real source code.
- Document for your ACR and good-faith file.
- File before Dec 31, 2026. Step-by-step.
Local, fast, bilingual
PassProof is a remote-first accessibility-engineering studio serving Ontario. We work with businesses across Toronto and the GTA — Mississauga, Brampton, Markham, Vaughan, Scarborough, North York, Etobicoke — plus Ottawa, Hamilton, London, and Kitchener-Waterloo, in English and French. Real code fixes, an instant AI audit, and funding guidance — not overlays.
See where your GTA business stands — free
The PassProof Report scans your site against Ontario's AODA/WCAG rules in ~30 seconds and returns your failures, what applies to your size, and a fixed-price path.
👉 Get your free PassProof Report
PassProof is a remote-first accessibility-engineering studio serving Ontario. Accessibility-engineering guidance, not legal advice; we work alongside your counsel.