A municipality website is not only the organisation’s business card, but also the main channel for communication with residents. In 2026, the requirements for public-sector websites in the EU became even stricter: WCAG accessibility, mobile-first design, data protection under GDPR and convenient content management are essential. In this article, we will look at how a municipality should choose the right website, what the main criteria are and what to pay attention to when selecting a supplier.
Why does a municipality need a modern website?
A municipality website is the first point of contact between the organisation and residents. Through it, people look for information about services, submit requests, find out about events and decisions being taken. An outdated, inconvenient or unsuitable website creates a negative image and reduces residents’ trust in the organisation.
In 2026, the European Accessibility Act applies in the EU, requiring all public-sector websites to meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards. This means that the website must be accessible to people with disabilities — blind people, deaf people and people with mobility impairments. Failure to meet these requirements can result in fines and reputational damage.
Main requirements for a municipality website
1. WCAG accessibility standards
A municipality website must meet WCAG 2.1 AA level requirements. This includes:
- Text contrast — the contrast between text and background colours must be at least 4.5:1.
- Keyboard navigation — the entire website must be usable with the keyboard only, without a mouse.
- Alternative texts — all images must have descriptive texts (alt attributes).
- Clear structure — headings must be hierarchical (H1, H2, H3), and the content logically divided.
- Subtitles and audio descriptions — video and audio content must have subtitles.
If your municipality does not yet meet these standards, we recommend contacting us about website accessibility adaptation in line with WCAG — an investment that pays off both legally and reputationally.
2. Mobile design (Mobile-First)
According to the latest data, more than 65 % of residents browse municipality websites on smartphones. Therefore, a municipality website must be built on a mobile-first principle — first adapted for small screens and only then adjusted for larger resolutions.
Mobile design principles include:
- Fast page loading time (up to 3 seconds).
- Large, easy-to-press buttons.
- Simplified navigation with a hamburger menu.
- Optimised images adapted for small screens.
- Forms that are convenient to fill in on a phone.
3. Content management system (CMS)
Municipality staff must be able to edit the website content independently — publish news, update contacts, add documents. Therefore, the content management system must be:
- Intuitive — editors should not need programming knowledge.
- Lithuanian — the interface must be localised into Lithuanian.
- Flexible — it must allow different types of content to be created: news, service descriptions, an events calendar, a document library.
- Secure — it must have user rights management so that different staff members have different access rights.
WordPress is one of the most popular CMSs in the world and in the EU, and it is perfectly suited to municipality websites. It offers thousands of plugins, is free and is continuously updated from a security perspective.
4. Multilingual support
Some municipalities — especially in border regions — need to provide information in several languages. The website must support a multilingual structure: Lithuanian, English, and in some cases Polish or Russian.
5. Integrations with e-services
A modern municipality website must integrate with state systems:
- Electronic services (e-delivery, e-health system).
- Document management systems (DMS).
- Resident register.
- E-signature integration for submitting requests.
How should website development suppliers be assessed?
Choosing the right supplier is one of the most important steps. Here are the criteria to follow:
Experience in the public sector
The supplier must have real experience in building websites for municipalities, schools, libraries or other public-sector institutions. Ask to see concrete examples of completed work.
WCAG competence
Make sure the supplier not only knows about WCAG standards, but also applies them in practice. Ask them to demonstrate how the websites they have created meet accessibility requirements.
Maintenance services
A website is not a one-off product. It needs ongoing maintenance: security updates, content management system updates, backups. A good supplier offers a long-term maintenance contract.
Price and transparency
Avoid suppliers who provide only a single total without a breakdown. A professional supplier will provide a detailed estimate showing the cost of each stage: design, programming, content migration, testing.
To get a preliminary estimate of your website development budget, you can use our website price calculator.
Stages of the website development process
A typical municipality website development process includes the following stages:
1. Needs analysis
First, the organisation’s exact needs are identified: what services will be provided through the website, how much content will be managed, what integrations are required.
2. Information architecture development
A website map (sitemap) is created, covering all pages, categories and the navigation structure. At this stage, it is important to consider residents’ needs — the most frequently sought services must be easy to access.
3. Design and prototyping
Visual layout options are created, taking into account the municipality’s identity, WCAG requirements and mobile design principles.
4. Programming and content migration
The website is programmed according to the approved design, the required functions are integrated, and the existing content is migrated.
5. Testing
Comprehensive testing is carried out: functionality, accessibility (WCAG audit), compatibility with different browsers and devices, performance testing.
6. Launch and maintenance
The website is launched, final adjustments are made, and ongoing maintenance begins.
Most common mistakes when choosing a website for a municipality
- The lowest price as the main criterion — the cheapest website often costs more in the long term because of constant fixes and updates.
- Ignoring WCAG — failure to meet accessibility standards can lead to fines of several thousand euros.
- Ignoring content management — if staff cannot edit content independently, the website quickly becomes outdated.
- Insufficient security — public-sector websites are a common target for cyberattacks.
- Ignoring SEO — if residents cannot find the website through Google, it does not fulfil its function.
Conclusions and recommendations
A municipality website in 2026 must be modern, accessible, secure and easy to manage. When choosing a supplier, prioritise experience in the public sector, WCAG competence and long-term maintenance.
If you are looking for a professional partner to build a municipality website, we invite you to explore our website development services or contact us for an individual consultation. Our team has many years of experience building websites for Lithuanian public-sector institutions.