- Businesses and non-profits with 20 or more employees in Ontario must file an accessibility compliance report by December 31, 2026, and every three years after that.
- You file online through the Accessibility Compliance Reporting Portal. Have your legal name, business number (BN9), employee count and a certifier ready.
- The certifier must be a senior officer with legal authority to say the report is complete and accurate, so check that you actually meet the requirements before anyone certifies.
- Under 20 employees, there’s no report to file, but the accessibility rules still apply to you.
Every three years, Ontario asks private businesses and non-profits with 20 or more employees to report on how they meet the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). The current deadline is December 31, 2026. Filing is a legal obligation, and the province says organizations that don’t file could face enforcement measures, including financial penalties.
Here’s who has to file, what you need before you start, how to file, and what to check first so the report is true when you certify it.
Who has to file
You file if you’re a business or non-profit with 20 or more employees. For the AODA, count full-time, part-time, seasonal and contract employees in Ontario. Don’t count employees outside Ontario, volunteers or independent contractors.
| Employees in Ontario | Compliance report | Other AODA duties |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 19 | Not required | Accessible customer service, training on accessibility and the Human Rights Code, accessible formats on request, accessible hiring, emergency information for employees who need it |
| 20 to 49 | Every three years, next by December 31, 2026 | Everything above |
| 50 or more | Every three years, next by December 31, 2026 | Everything above, plus written public policies, a multi-year accessibility plan posted on your website and reviewed at least every five years, training records, accessible public websites, and documented accommodation and return-to-work processes |
Not sure where you land? The guide to what Ontario requires at each size lists every requirement with its official source.
What you need before you start
- Your organization’s legal name.
- Your business number (BN9), the first nine digits of your CRA business number.
- Your employee count, counted the AODA way (above).
- A certifier: a senior officer with legal authority to say the report is complete and accurate, with their name and contact details.
How to file, step by step
- Go to the Accessibility Compliance Reporting Portal and choose Sign In/Create Account. You register with an email address and a password.
- Choose New Submission, then the Accessibility Compliance Report.
- Answer the questions about the requirements that apply to an organization your size.
- Enter the certifier’s details and choose Submit.
- Keep the confirmation email. It goes to the certifier and the primary contact, with a confirmation number.
Check these before anyone certifies
The report asks whether you meet the AODA requirements that apply to you. A certifier is confirming that the answers are complete and accurate, so walk through these first.
Every business with an employee in Ontario
- Accessible customer service policies: welcoming assistive devices, service animals and support persons, giving notice of temporary disruptions to services people with disabilities rely on, and a way for people to give feedback.
- Training for every employee and volunteer on accessible customer service and the Human Rights Code as it applies to people with disabilities, given as soon as practicable.
- Accessible information: letting the public and employees know you’ll provide information in accessible formats on request, without charging more for them.
- Accessible employment: telling applicants accommodation is available during hiring, telling employees about supports, and giving individualized workplace emergency response information to employees who need it.
Also at 50 or more employees
- Written accessibility policies, made public and available in an accessible format on request.
- A multi-year accessibility plan, posted on your website and reviewed at least every five years.
- A written record of training: who was trained and when.
- Accessible public websites, and documented individual accommodation plans and a return-to-work process.
If you find a gap, fix it before you file rather than certifying something that isn’t in place. Two worth checking first: is your customer service policy actually written down, and can you show that everyone was trained?
What happens if you don’t file
The Ministry audits and inspects organizations, and the province says organizations that don’t complete their report could face enforcement measures, including financial penalties. The report is due every three years, so put the next one in your calendar the day you file this one.
Where to get help
The province’s accessibility help line answers questions about the report: 1-866-515-2025 (toll-free), 416-849-8276, TTY 1-800-268-7095, or AODA.assistance@ontario.ca.
Prodigy Suite’s free compliance audit lists the AODA requirements that apply at your size alongside everything else Ontario expects. Prodigy Suite also drafts the accessible customer service policy, gets it signed, and runs accessible customer service training with a record of who completed it: the evidence a certifier wants to see.
Questions people ask
Do I need to file an AODA compliance report if I have fewer than 20 employees?
No. Businesses and non-profits with 1 to 19 employees don’t file a compliance report. The accessibility rules still apply to them, including accessible customer service and training.
How do I count employees for the AODA?
Count full-time, part-time, seasonal and contract employees in Ontario. Don’t count employees outside Ontario, volunteers or independent contractors.
Who can certify the AODA compliance report?
A senior officer with legal authority to say the report is complete and accurate, for example the owner or the president.
How often is the AODA compliance report due?
Every three years for businesses and non-profits with 20 or more employees. The current deadline is December 31, 2026.
Is there a fee to file?
The province’s guidance doesn’t mention one. You file online through the Accessibility Compliance Reporting Portal.
Sources
- Ontario: Completing your accessibility compliance report (updated February 19, 2026)
- Ontario: Accessibility rules for businesses and non-profits (updated June 16, 2026)
- Ontario: How to train your staff on accessibility
- Accessibility Compliance Reporting Portal
- Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (e-Laws)
- O. Reg. 191/11, Integrated Accessibility Standards (e-Laws)
This article is general information about Ontario’s rules as of October 15, 2026, not legal advice. Prodigy Suite isn’t a law firm. For a specific situation, speak to an Ontario employment lawyer.
See what applies to your business
The free audit lists every Ontario requirement at your size, with the law behind each, then checks your handbook against it.