Gas permeability of three chondrites was measured. A typical time for degassing of a 100-km-radius parent body was calculated based on these permeability values. It was found that an oridinary chondrite parent body would act as an open system during the metamorphic period (100 m.y.), while an enstatite chondrite parent body would act as a closed system. The possibility that volatile element concentrations in chondrites are controlled by permeability is discussed.