The penalty framework in France
France has one of Europe's most structured penalty frameworks for digital accessibility. Non-compliance with accessibility obligations exposes organizations to significant financial penalties that can be applied year after year.
Financial penalties breakdown
| Violation type | Amount | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Non-compliant site | Up to €50,000 | Per year per site |
| Missing accessibility statement | Up to €25,000 | Per year per site |
| Missing multi-year plan | Up to €25,000 | Per year |
| Missing homepage accessibility mention | Up to €2,500 | Per year per site |
| Missing user reporting mechanism | Up to €2,500 | Per year per site |
These amounts are cumulative. An organization with no accessibility efforts could face combined penalties exceeding €100,000 per year for a single website.
Who is affected?
Public sector (historical obligations)
- The State and its services
- Local authorities
- Public institutions
- Public service delegates
Private sector (since 2025)
- Companies with 250+ employees
- Companies with €50M+ revenue
- Online banking and financial services
- E-commerce sites
- Transport and telecom services
How to avoid penalties
- Run an initial audit — Use RGAA Checker for a quick assessment.
- Publish your accessibility statement — Even if not yet compliant, an honest statement protects from the €25,000 fine.
- Create your multi-year plan — A 3-year planning document showing commitment to improvement.
- Fix critical issues first — Keyboard navigation, alt text, contrast, labeled forms.
- Document your efforts — Keep records of all actions taken as evidence of good faith.