Permeable resin-bound surfacing can count toward San Francisco's stormwater requirements when it is built as permeable pavement over a storage base that the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) accepts in a Stormwater Control Plan. The SFPUC lists permeable pavement as a site design measure and as a BMP for larger projects.

What makes San Francisco different is that most of the city drains to a combined sewer, and since July 2023 every sewer bill carries a stormwater component, set by parcel size for most homes and by permeable and impermeable area for other properties. So a permeable surface here is about more than permits. Built correctly, it can help qualify a property for a stormwater credit on its monthly bill.

The Stormwater Management Ordinance, SMR and the sewer bill

Development and redevelopment projects in San Francisco fall under the Stormwater Management Ordinance and the SFPUC's Stormwater Management Requirements and Design Guidelines (SMR). Large Projects that create or replace 5,000 square feet or more of impervious surface must comply in full. Small Projects of 2,500 to 5,000 square feet in areas served by separate storm sewers must use at least one site design measure, and permeable pavement is on that list.

Performance targets depend on the sewer system. In combined sewer areas, a site that is 50 percent or less impervious must not exceed pre-development peak flow and volume for the 1- and 2-year, 24-hour storms; a site that is more than 50 percent impervious must cut both by 25 percent for the 2-year, 24-hour storm. In separate sewer areas, projects capture and treat the 90th percentile, 24-hour storm, or the 85th percentile storm on Port land.

The SFPUC also prices runoff directly. The stormwater component approved on May 23, 2023 took effect July 1, 2023 and is being phased in through 2030. Customers who manage rain with features such as permeable pavement can apply for a stormwater credit, and large sites that capture runoff from at least 0.5 acres of impervious surface can apply to the Green Infrastructure Grant Program for up to $2.5 million per project. Credits are calculated from the area that drains to the green infrastructure.

Westside sand, Bayside fill and groundwater rules

San Francisco's two sides behave very differently. Sandy soils across much of the Sunset and Richmond often take water readily, while filled former bay, marsh and creek areas on the eastern waterfront tend to have poor soils, shallow groundwater and a history of contamination. The SFPUC's infiltration criteria require at least 4 feet between the base of an infiltration BMP and seasonal high groundwater in the Bayside basins, and 10 feet in the Lobos and Westside basins, which supply groundwater, with possible reduction to 4 feet only with SFPUC approval. Bedrock also needs 4 feet of separation.

Sites in the Maher area under Health Code Article 22A, including filled land, former industrial parcels and land near highways, need a subsurface investigation, and contamination usually rules infiltration out. In those places a permeable resin-bound surface can still sit over a lined reservoir that slows flow into the combined sewer, and the engineer should document it that way.

Where it fits in San Francisco

Sunset and Richmond driveways, side yards and rear patios, where sandy soils give a permeable section its best chance to infiltrate.
Schoolyards and church or institutional grounds large enough for the Green Infrastructure Grant Program.
Courtyards and mid-block paseos in Mission Bay, SoMa and Dogpatch, usually over a liner or podium with controlled release.
Hotel forecourts and restaurant patios that need a decorative, slip-conscious finish that also drains.

Projects on Port of San Francisco land in separate sewer areas follow the Port's 85th percentile target, so check both the sewer type and the jurisdiction before sizing.

From SFPUC pre-application meeting to final completion

Large Projects schedule a stormwater pre-application meeting, submit a Preliminary Stormwater Control Plan for SFPUC intake acceptance before the DBI site permit, then a Final SCP before the architectural addenda. Conditions of approval include a Certification of Acceptable Construction, a post-construction inspection and a recorded maintenance agreement. From July 1, 2026, the SFPUC can charge fees and fines when owners skip the required annual self-certification of maintenance.

Resin Rock does not install. We manufacture and supply UV-stable resin binder, natural stone aggregate blends, trims and the Rock Crete permeable sub-base, with technical data sheets for your SCP submittal. We also connect owners with an approved installer, usually within 24 hours.

Before you specify permeable resin-bound in San Francisco

Confirm whether the parcel drains to the combined sewer or a separate storm sewer, and whether it is on Port land.
Map the groundwater basin and check the 4-foot or 10-foot separation rule.
Check the Maher map before planning any infiltration on fill or former industrial land.
Book the SFPUC stormwater pre-application meeting before the DBI site permit.
Ask the SFPUC how a permeable resin-bound area would be treated for a stormwater credit.
Budget for annual maintenance and self-certification.

Common questions about permeable resin-bound in San Francisco

Can a permeable resin-bound driveway lower my SFPUC sewer bill?

Possibly. Most homes pay a flat stormwater rate set by parcel size, so a new driveway surface does not change that rate, but the SFPUC offers a monthly credit for green infrastructure such as permeable pavement. For permeable pavement, the hard surface it replaces counts toward the credit, and the feature must meet SFPUC sizing and maintenance rules. Confirm with the SFPUC how a resin-bound design would be counted before you build.

My lot in the Sunset is sandy. Does that make infiltration easy?

It often helps, but the Westside basin carries a stricter rule. The SFPUC requires 10 feet between the bottom of an infiltration BMP and seasonal high groundwater in the Westside and Lobos basins, reducible to 4 feet only with its approval. Your engineer should confirm groundwater depth and test the soil before relying on infiltration.

Can I put resin-bound over my existing concrete and call it permeable?

Not for stormwater purposes. Rain would pass through the resin and then run off the slab into the sewer, so it would not reduce runoff or support a credit. For SMR compliance or a stormwater credit, the concrete is removed and the surface goes onto a permeable base such as Rock Crete over an engineered stone reservoir sized by the project engineer.

Official sources for San Francisco

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 San Francisco, CA