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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KGkK/ipNCJTE24ZudwmI7E12ftEjImB53CigXP7O9l6jzGwMjqfAQB1Hj9iC5QIP
 pFvPpaQw8QRN6sAHQmQ5YQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-012098.txt : 20031208
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-012098.hdr.sgml : 20031208
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031208172038
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-012098
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031204
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031208

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FIRST COMMUNITY BANCORP /CA/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001102112
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				330885320
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6110 EL TORDO
		CITY:			RANCHO SANTA FE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92067
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8587563023

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SPORRER ROBERT H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001179837

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-30747
		FILM NUMBER:		031043109

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5900 LA PLACE COURT
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			CARLSBAD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92008
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7604343345

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5900 LA PLACE COURT
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			CARLSBAD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92008
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-12-04</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001102112</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FIRST COMMUNITY BANCORP /CA/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FCBP</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001179837</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SPORRER ROBERT H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6110 EL TORDO</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P.O. BOX 2388</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RANCHO SANTA FE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92067</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>Regional Pres, Subsid, FNB </officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-12-04</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness><value>E</value>
</transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>300</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>0.00</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>74660</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership><value>By the Reporting Person and his spouse, as trustees of The Sporrer Family Trust</value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5000</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeHolding>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable></derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">The shares were transferred by bona fide gift, without consideration.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Robert H. Sporrer</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-12-05</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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