Pervious paving systems (permeable concrete and asphalt, permeable joint pavers, or reinforced grass and gravel grids) allow rainwater to pass through their surface and soak into the underlying ground, recharging watersheds and replenishing ground water supplies while protecting wildlife habitats and greater ecosystems. While these systems help reduce the amount of stormwater runoff, they are not considered a treatment measure. Pervious paving must be designed to manage stormwater runoff adequately, while maintaining the same load bearing capacity as conventional paving in order to support the weight and forces applied by vehicular traffic.

The distinguishing feature among the different pervious pavement systems is the means by which the surface is made permeable. Pervious concrete and asphalt are made with pore spaces within the material itself. Permeable joint pavers allow rainwater to pass through evenly spaced gaps between the pavers' edges. Reinforced grass and gravel grid systems also allow rainwater to soak into open pore spaces in the soil medium while the grid provides for structure and support.

The most desirable approach to using pervious paving is to combine this strategy with landscape-based stormwater management whenever possible. Pervious paving is primarily used on roadways with low-traffic speeds and volumes, but there are successful examples of pervious asphalt and concrete employed on high-traffic streets.

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