-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 E58LLTJ4JM7YkCPx/Z/4K2kj2J1LXnPVEqaC1Awzz96lF3NEGOyO7z/tMnD+QIQP
 Vl+74fJLurzRfLkiYJK4Ww==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000025232-05-000017.txt : 20050817
<SEC-HEADER>0000025232-05-000017.hdr.sgml : 20050817
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050817160147
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000025232-05-000017
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050816
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050817
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050817

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COUSINS PROPERTIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000025232
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				580869052
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			GA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2500 WINDY RIDGE PKWY STE 1600
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30339-5683
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7709552200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2500 WINDY RIDGE PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1600
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30339-5683

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HANCE JAMES H JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001176400

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11312
		FILM NUMBER:		051033512

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BANK OF AMERICA
		STREET 2:		100 N. TRYON STREET
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28255
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-08-16</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000025232</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COUSINS PROPERTIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CUZ</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001176400</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HANCE JAMES H JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2500 WINDY RIDGE PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ATLANTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30339</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-08-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>267</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>29.52</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20267</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Stock granted in lieu of cash for director's fees under the Cousins Properties Incorporated 1999 Incentive Stock Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kristin R. Myers, by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-08-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----