As part of the requirements to manage and mitigate the effects of development on stormwater runoff in McHenry County, the McHenry County Stormwater Management Commission and local municipalities enforce a countywide Stormwater Management Ordinance (SMO) that sets minimum standards for floodplain and stormwater management.
Since 2004, municipalities wholly within McHenry County have been required to adopt and enforce these minimum countywide standards for regulated development. The County most recently amended its countywide SMO on December 1, 2014.
Countywide Stormwater Management Ordinance.
On November 19, 2015, Cary became a certified community with stormwater ordinance regulations enforced as part of the Village's own permit process. A separate permit from McHenry County is no longer required as part of the Village's customer service initiatives to streamline the development process.