Permeable resin-bound surfacing can be proposed as a stormwater practice in Rochester if it is built to the porous pavement standard in the state Design Manual, the document the city's code points designers to. The manual names porous asphalt, porous concrete and porous pavers but not resin-bound surfaces, so the Stormwater Management Officer decides whether it counts. In practice that means an engineer-sized reservoir of open-graded stone under the porous surface, draining into the soil or out through an underdrain.

It also has a winter argument here. The state manual cites Irondequoit Bay, where incomplete lake mixing in 1986 was attributed to heavy salt use in the region, as an example of chloride harm, and the same manual notes that porous surfaces may reduce the need for deicing. A resin-bound overlay on an existing slab is not porous pavement: water passes the top layer and runs off the old surface below.

Chapter 39 and the state permit: when Rochester requires controls

Rochester's post-construction rules are in Part II of Article IV of Chapter 39. Water quantity and quality controls are required for land disturbance of five acres or more; one to five acres, other than single-family homes and agricultural work; smaller sites that are part of a larger common plan; and runoff discharging a pollutant of concern to an impaired or TMDL water. A Stormwater Management Officer, either the Commissioner or the City Engineer depending on the work, reviews plans against the state Design Manual.

Redevelopment projects of one acre or more are governed by the manual's special redevelopment sizing criteria, with final authorization after city review. Two of the options are cutting impervious cover by an amount equal to a quarter of the disturbed impervious area, or giving full water quality treatment to a quarter of that area. Porous pavement, a runoff reduction technique in the manual, can serve the second.

Tunnels, clay and road salt: site considerations

Monroe County Pure Waters built a tunnel system to control overflows from Rochester's combined sewers: the Irondequoit Bay system began operating in 1985 and the Genesee River system in 1989, with more tunnels in 1990 and 1992. Every gallon a site holds back still eases those tunnels and the Van Lare treatment plant in large storms.

Soils range from glacial till and lake-plain clays to sandier ground in places, so infiltration tests decide the design. The state manual requires at least 0.5 inch per hour for porous pavement, underdrains below 2 inches per hour, 2 feet of separation from seasonal high groundwater or bedrock, no sand or traction grit, and no use at hotspots. An engineer can size the open-graded stone reservoir for storage and frost, under Rock Crete or another permeable base.

Where it fits in Rochester

Redevelopment of downtown and Center City lots of an acre or more, using porous pavement toward the 25 percent redevelopment options.
University, hospital and research campus walks where facilities teams want to cut winter salt and slip risk.
Older neighborhood properties in areas like the South Wedge and Park Avenue, replacing failing patios and rear parking.
Church, school and nonprofit grounds with aging asphalt play areas and lots.
Riverfront and trail-side private plazas along the Genesee, designed to keep runoff from heading straight to the river.

Approval and support

The Stormwater Management Officer reviews SWPPPs and inspects practices; site plan review runs through the city's planning process, and projects of an acre or more also need state construction permit coverage. Rochester can require a performance bond, as-built plans certified by a New York licensed engineer, and a final inspection, and later changes to graded areas need city approval. Ask early whether a resin-bound surface course will be accepted as porous pavement.

Resin Rock's contribution is the system and its documentation: binder, aggregates, trims, Rock Crete and technical data sheets for the SWPPP. Installation is by an approved contractor we refer, trained through our installer training for New York crews. The city decides acceptance, and no credit is implied.

Before you specify permeable resin-bound in Rochester

Confirm whether disturbance or redevelopment area reaches one acre.
Check if the site drains to an impaired water with a pollutant of concern.
Test infiltration; clays often need an underdrain.
Plan winter care with less salt and no sand on the surface.
Prepare for a possible performance bond and certified as-built plans.
Keep hotspot uses off the permeable area.

Common questions about permeable resin-bound in Rochester

Does my small Rochester project need post-construction stormwater controls?

Usually only if it disturbs an acre or more, is part of a larger plan, or drains a pollutant of concern to an impaired water. Smaller projects may still face site plan conditions. A permeable section can be a good choice either way, but check with the city before assuming it is required or credited.

Can porous pavement help us use less road salt?

The state Design Manual says alternative porous surfaces may reduce the need for deicing treatments, and it flags chloride damage, including at Irondequoit Bay. It also bars sand on porous pavement because sand clogs the surface. Plan a winter routine with your installer and follow the product data sheets.

How does redevelopment change the rules in Rochester?

For redevelopment of one acre or more, Rochester applies the state manual's redevelopment criteria. One option removes impervious cover equal to 25 percent of what is disturbed; another gives full treatment to the runoff from at least that 25 percent share. Porous pavement, a runoff reduction technique in the manual, can serve the second option.

Official sources for Rochester

Local rules change. We last checked these sources in October 2026. Confirm current requirements with the reviewing agency before you design, and treat this page as a starting point, not engineering or permitting advice.

Permeable Resin-Bound Surfacing in Rochester, NY