Planning & Zoning

The Planning and Zoning Division works on both long range planning and current zoning issues. Planning and Zoning staff assist in guiding residents, developers, and business owners through the development and zoning process. The division helps to ensure that new development is compatible with the Village’s comprehensive plan and meets the Village’s development guidelines per the Village’s Zoning Ordinance, which is also available at Village Hall

The Planning and Zoning staff provides support and works closely with the Board of Zoning, Planning and Appeals

Copies of The Comprehensive Plan (PDF) or the 2023 Zoning Map (PDF) are available at the Community Development Department.

The Village of Cary Long-Range Plans and Studies

The Community Development Department is tasked with coordinating the Village’s long-range planning efforts.  These responsibilities include the generation and administration of the Village’s Comprehensive Plan and other related planning documents which are utilized to help guide future development within the community. These plans are crafted through extensive community outreach efforts to ensure they are reflective of the vision residents have for the Village's future and list tangible actions to be undertaken to achieve that vision. The Village's Comprehensive Plan provides guidance for the community as a whole, while the Downtown Strategic Plan and Algonquin-Cary Subarea Plan provide more specific guidance for defined areas in coordination with the Comprehensive Plan.  

Comprehensive Plan

The Official Comprehensive Plan is an advisory policy document and is intended to provide guidance for future land use decisions and development within the Village of Cary and surrounding planning area. The Comprehensive Plan is reviewed and updated periodically to ensure it accurately depicts the and use vision for the community. In January 2015 the Village Board adopted the most recent Village Comprehensive Plan. Previous versions of the Plan had been adopted in 1963, 1970, 1982 and 1992. 

Village of Cary Comprehensive Plan (Adopted January 20, 2015) (PDF)   

Land Use Plan