-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HQiaa+k9qgLIiBM5/cMC2zf1Jee6BMVumYJWwdMfzMQV4arn/oOjOW9gKobZYXc4
 gZgaKFbsmAaQScy+Qo9QbQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001258612-03-000003.txt : 20030827
<SEC-HEADER>0001258612-03-000003.hdr.sgml : 20030827
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030827145856
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001258612-03-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030827
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030827

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			THOMPSON TERRY H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001185473

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12569
		FILM NUMBER:		03868382

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		36 BEACON HILL
		CITY:			SPARTA
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07871

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SUSSEX BANCORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001028954
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				223475473
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NJ
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		399 RTE 23
		CITY:			FRANKLIN
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07416
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9738272914

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		399 RTE 23
		CITY:			FRANKLIN
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07416
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-08-27</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001028954</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SUSSEX BANCORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>sbb</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001185473</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>THOMPSON TERRY H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O SUSSEX BANK</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>399 ROUTE 23</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FRANKLIN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07416</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive VP</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-08-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>189</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.491</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4215</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>option - right to purchase</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.491</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-08-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>189</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.491</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-01-12</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-01-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>189</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>94</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person also holds 11,600 shares in a self directed IRA.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These options vest and become exercisable in three equal installments beginning with one-third vesting on the first anniverasey date of grant and an additional one-third vesting each anniversary date thereafter.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Candace Leatham, POA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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