Web Accessibility Laws in Florida

Florida is one of the top three states for web accessibility lawsuits in the United States, with over 1,800 federal digital accessibility cases filed in Florida districts in 2024. The Southern District of Florida (Miami) is particularly active, handling a significant share of national web accessibility litigation.

The Florida Civil Rights Act (FCRA, Section 760) provides state-level protections against discrimination in public accommodations, supplementing federal ADA coverage. Florida courts have generally followed federal precedent in treating websites as places of public accommodation, though the legal landscape continues to evolve after the Eleventh Circuit's decisions in key cases.

Florida's $100+ billion tourism industry makes hospitality websites the state's most frequently targeted category for accessibility lawsuits. Hotels, resorts, attractions, and restaurants depend on online booking and information, creating significant exposure when these digital experiences are inaccessible.

• Hotel booking engines: Date pickers, room selectors, and payment flows that fail keyboard navigation trap users who rely on assistive technology
• Restaurant menus: PDF menus without proper tagging are among the most common violations — they are completely unreadable by screen readers
• Attraction websites: Interactive maps, virtual tours, and ticket purchasing flows frequently lack alt text and ARIA labels
• Vacation rental platforms: Property listing sites with image-heavy layouts often have zero alt text on hundreds of photos

Florida tourism businesses that rely on online bookings face dual risk: losing the disability travel market worth over $58 billion annually and incurring legal costs from accessibility claims.

Florida has produced important precedent in web accessibility law:

• Gil v. Winn-Dixie Stores (2017/2021): The landmark case where a blind plaintiff sued a grocery chain over its inaccessible website. The trial court ruled for the plaintiff, but the Eleventh Circuit reversed on standing grounds in 2021 — though the reversal was narrow and did not rule that websites are exempt from the ADA
• Haynes v. Dunkin' Donuts (2018): Settlement requiring full WCAG 2.0 AA compliance for the fast-food chain's website and mobile ordering platform
• Multiple hotel chain settlements (2023-2024): Several major Florida-based hotel groups settled accessibility claims for amounts ranging from $50,000 to $200,000

Despite the Winn-Dixie appellate outcome, plaintiff filings in Florida have not decreased. Firms continue to successfully pursue claims, particularly where the website has a clear nexus to a physical business location. Average Florida settlements range from $10,000 to $80,000.

Florida businesses should take a proactive approach to web accessibility. Run a free CompliScan scan to get an immediate baseline of your WCAG 2.1 AA compliance. Automated tools catch 30-40% of issues, focusing on the machine-detectable violations most commonly cited in lawsuits.

Priority actions for Florida businesses:

• Hospitality sites: Audit booking flows end-to-end — date selection, room/table choices, guest details, and payment must all work with keyboard and screen reader
• PDF menus and documents: Replace image-only PDFs with properly tagged accessible documents or HTML alternatives
• Government entities: Florida counties and municipalities must comply with WCAG 2.1 AA by the ADA Title II deadline of April 24, 2026
• Continuous monitoring: CompliScan Shield ($49/mo) provides weekly scans to catch regressions — critical for sites with frequently updated content like hotel availability and restaurant menus

For Florida tourism agencies and hospitality groups managing multiple properties, CompliScan's Agency plan ($299/mo) covers up to 50 sites with priority scanning.