The Accessible BC Act and your restaurant website: what applies today and what to do anyway

Accessibility law in Canada is a patchwork. Ontario has its own binding rules for larger organizations. British Columbia has passed the Accessible British Columbia Act, but its obligations apply so far to the government and public bodies named in the regulation. Here is how to read that if you run a private restaurant or café in the province.

What is the Accessible BC Act?

It is provincial law, which received Royal Assent in June 2021, meant to identify, remove and prevent barriers for people with disabilities. It sets a framework for accessibility committees, plans and feedback processes. The Accessible B.C. Regulation took effect on 1 September 2022, and the BC government says it names public sector organizations such as government bodies, school districts, universities, municipalities and health authorities. The framework is designed to expand, and the government is drafting accessibility standards, starting with employment and accessible service delivery. Private restaurants are not named in the regulation today, so ask a lawyer if you are unsure.

Check the government's page before you conclude that nothing applies to you. If your business has a government contract, a municipal licence condition or a franchise agreement that requires accessibility measures, those can apply regardless of the Act.

Why bother if the law does not require it?

• Customers. People with disabilities eat out, and so do their families and friends. A website that a screen reader cannot read costs you bookings.
• Older customers. Large text, clear contrast and simple forms help people of every age.
• Search. Many accessibility fixes, such as headings, alternative text and clear links, also help search engines.
• Future rules. If provincial rules extend to private business, a site that is already accessible will need little work.
• Human rights law. The BC Human Rights Code prohibits discrimination in services customarily available to the public. Accessibility complaints can come through that route.

What does an accessible restaurant website look like?

Ontario's rules point to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines at level AA, and they make a useful target anywhere in Canada. In practice, for a restaurant site:

1. Menus as text, not only as a picture or PDF scan. A screen reader cannot read a photographed menu. Put the menu in HTML, and keep a PDF as an extra.
2. Alternative text for images that carry meaning, such as a map or a special-offer banner.
3. Contrast. Text must stand out from the background. Pale grey on white is hard for many people to read.
4. Keyboard use. Everything must work without a mouse, including booking forms and menus.
5. Clear form labels and error messages that say what went wrong.
6. Headings in order, so that a screen reader user can jump to the section they want.
7. Link text that makes sense, rather than click here.
8. Captions on video and no autoplay with sound.
9. Opening hours, address and phone number as plain text.

Do not forget the building

Website accessibility is part of a bigger picture. Say on your site whether you have a step-free entrance, accessible washrooms, and seating for wheelchair users and for people who need a chair with arms. Staff should know how to describe the layout, and be ready to offer a large-print menu or to read it aloud.

How do you check your site?

• Use only your keyboard to move through the booking process.
• Zoom your browser to 200 percent and see whether the page still works.
• Run a free automated checker, but remember that it catches only part of the problems.
• Ask someone who uses a screen reader to try your site.

If you use a website builder or booking widget

Ask your supplier what accessibility standard its templates meet, and whether the booking widget works with a keyboard and screen reader. A widget on your page is part of your page in the eyes of a customer.

What should you say on the website about access?

Say what you know, in plain words. For example: the front door is step-free, the washrooms are on the ground floor, the aisles are wide enough for a wheelchair, there are quiet times when the room is calmer, and staff can read the menu aloud. If something is not accessible, say that too, and say what you can do instead. People plan around honest information, and they notice when a website says accessible without any detail. Include a phone number and an email address for questions, and answer messages promptly.

What should you do now?

1. Fix the menu so it is text.
2. Check contrast and image descriptions.
3. Publish an accessibility statement with a contact for feedback.
4. Review it once a year, and when you rebuild the site.

Treat the Act as a direction of travel, and read the government's page for new obligations.

More guides for your business:

• BC's delivery app fee cap: what it covers, what it does not and how to work out your real margin
• Liquor licences for BC restaurants: food primary or liquor primary, and who needs Serving It Right
• BC minimum wage for restaurants in 2026: 18.25 dollars, liquor servers and the June adjustment

More in the Canadian guides for food businesses.