AODA compliance report 2026: who files, the 6 portal questions, and the December 31 deadline
Every three years, Ontario businesses and non-profits with 20 or more employees have to tell the province, in writing, that they meet their accessibility requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). This is a reporting year: the deadline is December 31, 2026. Filing is free and takes one online form, but each answer has a paper trail behind it. This guide covers who files, what you need before you sign in, what the six questions cover, and the exact filing steps.
Who has to file
- Businesses and non-profits with 20 or more employees in Ontario: file every three years. Deadline this cycle: December 31, 2026.
- Designated public sector organizations (municipalities and the bodies listed in Ontario Regulation 191/11 and Regulation 146/10): file every two years. Their deadline was December 31, 2025, and a missed 2025 report still has to be filed.
- Fewer than 20 employees: no report, but the accessibility rules still apply to you.
- Federally regulated organizations (banks, airlines, telecoms, interprovincial trucking and the like) follow the federal Accessible Canada Act instead.
Ontario states that filing is a legal obligation and that organizations that do not file could face enforcement measures, including financial penalties.
What you need before you sign in
- Your organization's legal name.
- Your business number (BN9), the nine digits from your federal or provincial tax return.
- Your number of employees. What applies to you changes at 50 employees, so get this right first.
- The name and contact details of your certifier: a senior officer with legal authority to say the report is complete and accurate.
The 6 questions on the portal
The report asks whether you meet the requirements in six areas. What each one covers:
1. General requirements
Accessibility policies, and training on the accessibility rules and the Ontario Human Rights Code. With 50 or more employees you also need a written multi-year accessibility plan and records of the training.
2. Information and communications
Accessible ways to give feedback, accessible formats on request, and accessible emergency information. With 50 or more employees, your website must meet WCAG 2.0 Level AA.
3. Employment
Accessible recruitment notices, informing staff about supports, and workplace emergency information. With 50 or more employees: individual accommodation plans and a return-to-work process.
4. Transportation
Only applies if you provide transportation services.
5. Design of public spaces
Only applies to public spaces you newly built or redeveloped.
6. Customer service
Policies on assistive devices, service animals and support persons, notice of disruptions, staff training, and a way for customers to give feedback.
How to file, step by step
- Open the Accessibility Compliance Reporting Portal and choose "Sign In/Create Account".
- Register with an email address and password.
- Sign in, choose "New Submission", then "Accessibility Compliance Report".
- Answer the questions and select "Submit". The certifier and the primary contact get a confirmation email with a confirmation number. Keep it.
You can file one report for up to 20 organizations if they share the same category, employee-count range, certifier and answers. If your address, contact, employee count or status changes later, update your profile on the portal.
The part that takes the time
The form itself is short. The work is having the documents behind a "Yes": a written accessibility policy, a training record, and at 50 or more employees a multi-year plan posted on your website. If those don't exist yet, write them before you file.
Want the documents done in about 30 minutes?
The A3E AODA compliance report kit gives the answer path for all 6 questions at your size, plus an accessibility policy, multi-year plan and training log filled in with your organization's name, and a 2026 job-posting checker. Templates and guidance, not legal advice. CA$49 + tax, full refund within 14 days.
See the kit and the free "Do I have to file?" checkQuestions
Who has to file the AODA compliance report in 2026?
Ontario businesses and non-profit organizations with 20 or more employees. They file every three years, and this cycle's deadline is December 31, 2026. Designated public sector organizations file every two years; their last deadline was December 31, 2025.
Is filing the report free?
Yes. You file at no cost on Ontario's Accessibility Compliance Reporting Portal (accessibilityreporting.ontario.ca).
What do I need before I start?
Your organization's legal name, business number (BN9), number of employees, and the name and contact details of your certifier: a senior officer with legal authority to say the report is complete and accurate.
We have fewer than 20 employees. Do we file?
No report is filed under 20 employees, but the accessibility rules themselves still apply. If your employee count changes, update your profile on the portal.
What happens if we don't file?
Ontario says organizations that do not complete the report could face enforcement measures, which can include financial penalties. The province also audits and inspects organizations.
Can one person file for several companies?
Yes, up to 20 organizations in one report if they share the same organization category, employee-count range, certifier and answers to every question. Otherwise each needs its own form.
Sources: ontario.ca, "Completing your accessibility compliance report" (updated February 19, 2026), checked November 9, 2026; Ontario Regulation 191/11. Free help from the province: 1-866-515-2025, AODA.assistance@ontario.ca. This guide is general information, not legal advice. A3E Ecosystem Inc is not affiliated with the Government of Ontario.
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