Stormwater Control Measures (SCMs) are used on sites to treat stormwater runoff from development-related impervious surfaces. Cary requires paperwork for each new or retrofitted SCM that is included in a development project.

Under Cary’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, the Town cannot issue a Certificate of Occupancy (or Temporary Certificate of Occupancy) for the final development or building of the development until all of the engineered stormwater control measures and associated documents are approved and in place on the property.

Each SCM requires the following: 

  1. Executed Deed for property*
  2. Operations & Maintenance Manual
  3. Maintenance Agreement (notarized)
  4. Recorded final plat*
  5. Establishment of Dedicated Maintenance Account - requires an engineer's estimate for 10% of the total SCM construction cost and a certification form
  6. Stormwater Control Structure Access and Easement Agreement*
  7. Professional Engineer's Certification Engineered Stormwater Control Structure (submitted through Geocivix)
  8. As-Built Record Drawings (submitted through Geocivix, no template provided. Please refer to the Record Drawing Checklist.)
  9. For Bioretention Cells, a soils report for media (showing % by volume of sand, silt, and organics as well as P-value)
  10. Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) video files of all public and private storm drain infrastructure for staff review.
  11. Homeowners' Association/Property Owners' Association covenants, if applicable.

The above requirements are detailed on the Stormwater Acknowledgment Form provided during pre-construction meetings and signed by the responsible person. Cary provides templates for required SCM paperwork, including the Stormwater Acknowledgment Form. Some templates are universal for all SCMs, and others are specific to the device type. 

*All of these items are required to be recorded at the Register of Deeds (ROD) Office for the county in which the project lies. Documents may be recorded in person by bringing them to the ROD's physical office with the applicable fee; some counties also allow electronic recording. You may find ROD information and find recorded documents using the links below:

Please reach out to your Stormwater Field Services Technician (Will Feely or Mike D. Thompson) or Emily Cochran, Stormwater Program Analyst, with questions.