-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 DJXBBmCjRk4Y6feGXCcqdw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-04-011111.txt : 20040423
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-04-011111.hdr.sgml : 20040423
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040423162043
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-04-011111
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040422
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040423

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LANPHIER EDWARD O II
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001234386

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-30171
		FILM NUMBER:		04751359

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SANGAMO BIOSCIENCES IN STE.A-100
		STREET 2:		POINT RICHMOND TECH CENTER 501 CANA BLVD
		CITY:			RICHMOND
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94804

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SANGAMO BIOSCIENCES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001001233
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS (NO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES) [2836]
		IRS NUMBER:				680359556
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		501 CANAL BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE A100
		CITY:			RICHMOND
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94804
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5109706000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		501 CANAL BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE A100
		CITY:			RICHMOND
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94804
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-22</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001001233</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SANGAMO BIOSCIENCES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SGMO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001234386</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LANPHIER EDWARD O II</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O SANGAMO BIOSCIENCES IN STE.A-100</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>POINT RICHMOND TECH CENTER 501 CANA BLVD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RICHMOND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94804</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>6.39</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-04-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Option is immediately exercisable, subject to repurchase of the option shares by the Issuer at the exercise price prior to full vesting.  The repurchase right lapses, and the options vest, as follows: (i) 25% of the option shares on April 22, 2005, and (ii) the remaining shares vest in a series of successive monthly installments over the remaining 36 months thereafter.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">N/A</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ EDWARD O. LANPHIER II</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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