Do logos need to follow the accessibility guidelines?

Logos are meaningful images, but they are exempt from certain Web Content Accessibility Guidelines(WCAG) that apply to images and graphics. For a quick break-down:

• Logos are required to have a text alternative, such as using the alt attribute.
• Logos are not required to conform to color contrast requirements.
• Logos are not required to conform to images of text success criteria.

Even though logos are exempt from the color contrast requirements under WCAG, it's a good idea to use colors in your branding that reach adequate contrast. That way, visual users can more easily perceive and read your logo.