Montréal Website Accessibility Complaints - City Bylaw

Technology and Data Quebec 3 Minutes Read · published February 11, 2026 Flag of Quebec

Montréal, Quebec residents can report website accessibility problems that affect people with disabilities to the city and related authorities. This guide explains who enforces accessibility rules, how to prepare a complaint, expected timelines, and appeal options. It covers municipal complaint routes and practical steps to document barriers, submit evidence, and follow up with the City of Montréal or provincial bodies when online services are not accessible.

Penalties & Enforcement

The City of Montréal promotes universal accessibility through policies and programs and refers accessibility issues to the relevant municipal departments for investigation. Monetary penalties or specific fines for website accessibility are not clearly listed on the City pages cited; see the enforcement contacts below for complaint pathways and next steps.[1]

  • Enforcer: By-law enforcement and the City Accessibility or Diversity office typically coordinate complaints and compliance reviews.
  • Complaint pathway: file a report to the City’s accessibility/contact page or the general report-a-problem portal and request escalation for accessibility concerns.[1]
  • Inspection & evidence: the city may request screenshots, URLs, descriptions of the barrier, and the date/time of the issue.
  • Appeal/review: appeal routes are not specified on the cited municipal page; timelines for review or appeal are not specified on the cited page.[1]
  • Fines & escalation: specific fine amounts and escalating penalties for web-accessibility breaches are not specified on the cited municipal pages; provincial remedies may also apply depending on the instrument cited by the City.[2]
Keep records: save emails, screenshots and the exact URL where the barrier occurred.

Applications & Forms

The municipal pages do not publish a dedicated online form number for website accessibility complaints; residents are directed to the City’s report-a-problem channel or the accessibility information page for instructions. If no specific form is available, submit a detailed report through the City portal and mark it as an accessibility issue.[1]

How to File a Website Accessibility Complaint

Follow these practical steps to prepare and submit a complaint to the City of Montréal or a provincial authority when a municipal website or online service is inaccessible.

  • Collect evidence: copies of pages, screenshots, browser and assistive technology used, and timestamps.
  • Identify the service: note the exact City URL, the municipal service affected, and the user journey that fails.
  • Contact the City: submit using the City report channel and request accessibility investigation; include your evidence and contact information.[1]
  • Escalate if needed: if the response is unsatisfactory, ask the City for the file number and next steps to appeal or request review.
Be specific: include steps to reproduce the issue and the assistive technology you used.

Common Violations

  • Poor contrast or unreadable text on City pages.
  • Missing alternative text for images used in municipal services.
  • Forms that cannot be completed with keyboard-only navigation.

FAQ

Who handles website accessibility complaints in Montréal?
The City’s accessibility or by-law enforcement teams initially receive reports; specific departments may investigate depending on the service involved. See the City accessibility and report channels for contact details.[1]
Are there monetary fines for inaccessible municipal websites?
Specific fine amounts and penalty structures for website accessibility are not specified on the cited municipal pages; provincial or federal instruments may apply depending on the context.[2]
How long does an investigation take?
Timelines are not specified on the cited City pages; request a file number when you file a complaint and ask for the expected processing time.[1]

How-To

  1. Gather evidence: capture screenshots, record dates/times, and note assistive technologies used.
  2. Submit a report: use the City of Montréal report channel and mark the issue as an accessibility complaint.[1]
  3. Request confirmation: ask for a file or reference number and the expected timeline for resolution.
  4. Follow up: if unsatisfied, request escalation or contact a provincial human-rights or accessibility office for further review.[2]

Key Takeaways

  • Document barriers carefully and include reproducible steps.
  • Use the City report-a-problem channel and request an accessibility investigation.[1]

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] City of Montréal – Accessibility information
  2. [2] Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse (Quebec)

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