Privacy Compliance Checklist: 15 Steps to Make Your Website GDPR-Ready

The Complete GDPR Compliance Checklist for Websites

GDPR compliance isn't just about adding a cookie banner. It covers how you collect, process, store, and share personal data. This checklist covers every area that applies to a typical website or web application.

Use this as a starting point and check off each item. Items marked with an asterisk (*) are things LegalBanner handles automatically.

Cookie Consent & Tracking

1. Install a compliant consent banner * — Must appear before any non-essential cookies are set. Must offer Accept All, Reject All, and granular category options with equal prominence.
2. Block scripts until consent * — All non-essential scripts (analytics, marketing, functional) must be blocked from loading until the user actively consents. Verify by checking DevTools before interacting with the banner.
3. Scan for all cookies and trackers * — Run an automated scan to identify every cookie, localStorage item, and third-party request on your site. Update your cookie policy to list them all.
4. Implement Google Consent Mode v2 * — If you use Google Analytics or Google Ads, send the required consent signals (analytics_storage, ad_storage, ad_user_data, ad_personalization).
5. Enable consent withdrawal * — Provide a persistent "Cookie Settings" link (footer or floating icon) so users can change their consent at any time.
6. Maintain consent audit logs * — Record every consent decision with timestamp, choices made, and banner version.

Privacy Documentation

1. Publish a privacy policy — Must include: controller identity, data types collected, purposes, legal bases, recipients, retention periods, user rights, and complaint procedures. Link from every page.
2. Publish a cookie policy — List every cookie by name, provider, purpose, category, and duration. Can be part of or linked from the privacy policy.
3. Maintain a Record of Processing Activities (ROPA) — Document all processing activities, categories of data, purposes, recipients, and retention periods. Required under Article 30.

Data Collection & Forms

1. Add consent checkboxes to forms — Contact forms, newsletter signups, and account registration must include clear consent language. Do not use pre-ticked checkboxes.
2. Minimise data collection — Only collect data you actually need. Don't ask for phone numbers on newsletter forms. Don't require birth dates for account creation unless legally necessary.

Third-Party Services

1. Audit third-party data processors — List every service that processes personal data on your behalf (hosting, email, analytics, payment, CRM). Ensure each has a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) in place.
2. Verify data transfer safeguards — For any service that transfers data outside the EU/EEA (most US-based services), verify that Standard Contractual Clauses or an adequacy decision covers the transfer.

User Rights & Security

1. Enable data subject requests — Have a process to handle access, rectification, erasure, and portability requests within 30 days. Provide clear contact information for these requests.
2. Implement data breach procedures — Have a documented plan for detecting, reporting (to authorities within 72 hours), and notifying affected individuals of personal data breaches.

How LegalBanner Covers Steps 1–6

Items 1 through 6 on this checklist are handled automatically by deploying LegalBanner. One script tag gives you: compliant consent banner, script blocking, automatic cookie scanning, Google Consent Mode v2, consent withdrawal, and audit logging.

That leaves items 7–15 for you to handle. For the privacy policy (item 7), LegalBanner's Starter and Pro plans include a privacy policy generator that covers the key requirements. For everything else, we recommend working with a privacy consultant or using the resources from your local data protection authority.

Start Today

Don't let the length of this checklist paralyse you. Start with the highest-risk items (cookie consent and script blocking) and work through the rest over time. Partial compliance is always better than no compliance, and regulators are more lenient with organisations that demonstrate genuine effort.