guide
ACA for real estate: requirements, priorities, and audit checklist
ACA compliance for real estate sites requires applying Accessible Canada Act to the specific failure points typical of the real estate industry — including listing photo galleries without alt text, mortgage calculators without keyboard control, inaccessible pdf disclosures and contracts.
Does ACA apply to real estate sites?
The Accessible Canada Act (ACA, 2019) requires federally regulated entities — federal government, banks, telecom, broadcasting, transportation — to identify, remove and prevent accessibility barriers, with the explicit goal of "a Canada without barriers by 2040" and detailed regulations layered on top including the ICT regulations referencing EN 301 549.
Real Estate accessibility — the lay of the land
Real estate combines ADA, Fair Housing Act (FHA), and state-level requirements. Listing photo galleries, search filters, mortgage calculators, and inaccessible PDFs (disclosures, contracts) are the standard failure points. Multi-Listing Service (MLS) participants inherit obligations through MLS rules.
Where ACA bites hardest in real estate sites
• Listing photo galleries without alt text
• Mortgage calculators without keyboard control
• Inaccessible PDF disclosures and contracts
• Map-based search without alternative
• Inaccessible virtual tour platforms
Remediation priorities
• Property listing and search
• Photo galleries and virtual tours
• Disclosure and contract PDFs
• Mortgage calculators and application flows
• Agent contact forms
How to comply with ACA on a Real Estate site
1. Publish an accessibility plan: Every federally regulated entity must publish a multi-year accessibility plan, updated every three years.
2. Establish a feedback mechanism: Accept and respond to accessibility complaints.
3. File progress reports: Annual progress report between plans.
4. Meet technical ICT requirements: Reference EN 301 549 for digital products and services.
Sources
- Accessible Canada Act — Government of Canada
- HUD Fair Housing — US HUD
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Cited answers. Sourced. Updated as standards and case law change.
Does ACA apply to real estate websites?
The Accessible Canada Act (ACA, 2019) requires federally regulated entities — federal government, banks, telecom, broadcasting, transportation — to identify, remove and prevent accessibility barriers, with the explicit goal of "a Canada without barriers by 2040" and detailed regulations layered on top including the ICT regulations referencing EN 301 549.
What are the most common ACA failures in real estate sites?
Listing photo galleries without alt text Mortgage calculators without keyboard control Inaccessible PDF disclosures and contracts
What conformance level should a real estate site target?
WCAG 2.2 Level AA is the consensus target for legal compliance and the level referenced by virtually every national accessibility law.
Does Fair Housing Act cover website accessibility?
HUD and DOJ have stated that the Fair Housing Act prohibits accessibility-related discrimination in housing-related online services and advertising, in addition to physical accessibility. Lawsuits citing both FHA and ADA Title III are increasingly common.
Are MLS-feed property photos required to have alt text?
Best practice is yes — and many MLS rules now require structured listing content that supports accessibility. The receiving site is responsible for rendering accessibly regardless of feed format.
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