AODA compliance report 2026: what Ontario businesses file by December 31
Updated 2026-10-28. Rules current to October 23, 2026. A plain-language summary, not legal advice. EmployerReady is not affiliated with the Government of Ontario.
Ontario businesses and non-profits with 20 or more employees in Ontario file an accessibility compliance report by December 31, 2026, and then every three years. The form is short. What it asks you to confirm is not.
Who has to file
The accessibility standards apply to any organization that provides goods, services or facilities to the public or to other businesses and has at least one employee in Ontario. Selling only to other businesses still counts. Organizations with 20 or more employees in Ontario file the compliance report. Count heads, not full-time equivalents: full-time, part-time, seasonal and contract workers count; volunteers, independent contractors and staff outside Ontario don’t. The filed report must also be made available to the public.
What the 2026 report asks
| Employees in Ontario | What you answer |
|---|---|
| 20–49 | One question: are you in compliance with all applicable requirements of the Customer Service Standards? Yes or no, with room for comments. |
| 50 or more | Yes/no questions on each part of the standards (general requirements, information and communications, employment, transportation, design of public spaces and customer service); filed reports we have seen had about six. A “no” asks why. |
A director, senior officer or other person who can bind the organization certifies that the report is complete and accurate. You file it free on the Ontario government’s Accessibility Compliance Reporting Portal. Have your legal name, business number (BN9), employee count and the certifier’s name and contact details ready. One filing can cover up to 20 related organizations with identical answers.
What has to be true before you answer “Yes”
The question is short because it stands for a list of obligations. At 20–49 employees the report asks only about the customer service standards, which require:
- policies on providing goods and services to people with disabilities that address the use of assistive devices, and, if the public comes to premises you own or operate, letting service animals and support persons in (with advance notice of any fee for a support person);
- a notice to the public when facilities or services people with disabilities rely on are temporarily disrupted, giving the reason, how long it is expected to last and any alternatives;
- training on accessible customer service, covering the topics the regulation lists, for all employees and volunteers, anyone who helps develop your policies, and anyone who provides goods or services on your behalf, given as soon as practicable and again when your policies change;
- an accessible process to receive and respond to feedback, which says what you will do with complaints and is readily available to the public.
Reporting on only customer service does not mean only customer service applies. At every size, covered organizations must also have accessibility policies, train people on the accessibility standards and the Ontario Human Rights Code, provide accessible formats and communication supports on request, make emergency and public safety information accessible on request, tell job applicants and employees that accommodation is available, and prepare individualized workplace emergency information when an employee needs it.
At 50 or more you also need written customer service documents and training records, a statement of commitment, written accessibility policies, a multi-year accessibility plan, an accessible website (WCAG 2.0 Level AA for content published after January 1, 2012, with some exceptions), and written processes for individual accommodation plans and return to work.
If something is missing
You are certifying, so answer honestly. A “no” is allowed and asks for an explanation. The better course is to put the missing policies, notices and training records in place before December 31 so the answer is genuinely yes.
Sources
- O. Reg. 191/11, Integrated Accessibility Standards (s. 1(3) scope, s. 86.1 reporting, Part IV.2 customer service)
- Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (ss. 14–15 reports and certification)
- Completing your accessibility compliance report (ontario.ca)
- Accessibility rules for businesses and non-profits (ontario.ca: counting employees)