Référentiel Général d'Amélioration de l'Accessibilité Compliance Checker
French public sector accessibility standard. 106 criteria mapped to WCAG 2.1 AA.
What is RGAA?
RGAA (Référentiel Général d'Amélioration de l'Accessibilité) is the French government's general accessibility reference standard. Currently at version 4.1, it contains 106 testable criteria derived from and aligned with WCAG 2.1 Level AA. RGAA applies to the French state, local authorities, public establishments, and, since 2019, private companies with annual revenue above €250 million operating in France. Organizations subject to RGAA must publish an accessibility statement and a multi-year accessibility plan.
Who Needs to Comply?
- French state administrations and public agencies
- Local and regional governments (régions, départements, communes)
- Public establishments and state-owned enterprises
- Private companies with €250M+ annual revenue operating in France
- Public-service delegation holders
Penalties for Non-Compliance
RGAA Compliance: The Complete Guide
What Is RGAA?
The Référentiel Général d’Amélioration de l’Accessibilité (RGAA) is France’s official accessibility methodology. At version 4.1, it translates WCAG 2.1 Level AA into 106 testable criteria across 13 thematic areas.
Legal Basis
RGAA derives from Article 47 of Law No. 2005-102 (French Disability Act), amended by the Law for a Digital Republic (2016) and the EU Web Accessibility Directive transposition. France was one of the first EU states to establish digital accessibility requirements.
Scope
- Central and local government — all ministries, agencies, municipalities
- Public establishments — hospitals, universities, public research
- Public service delegates — private companies operating public services
- Large private companies — €250M+ annual revenue in France
The 106 Criteria
Organized across 13 themes: Images, Frames, Colors, Multimedia, Tables, Links, Scripts, Mandatory elements, Structuring, Presentation, Forms, Navigation, and Consultation. Each maps to WCAG 2.1 AA success criteria with specific test procedures.
Compliance Obligations
- Accessibility statement on every site with conformance level
- Compliance badge — “totalement conforme” (100%), “partiellement conforme” (50%+), or “non conforme”
- Multi-year accessibility plan (schéma pluriannuel, max 3 years)
- Regular audits against all 106 criteria
Penalties
€50,000/year per non-conformant service. €25,000/year for missing statements. Enforced by ARCOM. An organization with five non-conformant sites could face €375,000 annually.
How wcagrepair Helps
Since RGAA maps to WCAG 2.1 AA, wcagrepair’s scanning covers the technical foundation. For $8.99, get a remediation guide with findings mapped to WCAG criteria, enabling you to calculate your RGAA conformance percentage for your accessibility statement.
RGAA Compliance FAQ
Who must comply with RGAA?
All French public-sector organizations (government, local authorities, public establishments) and private companies with annual revenue of €250 million or more in France.
How does RGAA relate to WCAG?
RGAA 4.1 is a French methodology built on WCAG 2.1 Level AA. Its 106 testable criteria map directly to WCAG success criteria but add specific test procedures and pass/fail patterns. Meeting WCAG 2.1 AA effectively satisfies RGAA.
What are RGAA penalties?
€50,000/year per non-conformant service for accessibility violations. €25,000/year per service for missing accessibility statements. Penalties apply per service, so multiple sites mean cumulative fines.
Does RGAA apply to private companies?
Only to private companies with €250M+ annual revenue in France. Smaller companies are not currently subject to RGAA, though EAA transposition will bring additional obligations.
How Our Scanner Helps with RGAA
Most accessibility laws reference the WCAG 2.1 AA standard as their technical baseline. Our scanner audits your site against WCAG 2.1 AA using axe-core — the same engine used by Google Lighthouse and Microsoft Accessibility Insights.
- Automated RGAA audit mapped to WCAG 2.1 success criteria your regulation requires
- Severity breakdown by critical, major, and minor issues to prioritize remediation
- AI-generated remediation guide with copy-paste code fixes for every issue
- Ongoing monitoring to stay compliant as your site changes
- Downloadable compliance certificate showing your site's current audit status
Is Your Site RGAA Compliant?
Find out in under 2 minutes — free.