Basis of Presentation	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
BASIS OF PRESENTATION	BASIS OF PRESENTATION The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein include the accounts of Cousins Properties Incorporated (“Cousins”) and its consolidated subsidiaries, including Cousins Real Estate Corporation and its subsidiaries (“CREC”). All of the entities included in the condensed consolidated financial statements are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Company.” The Company develops, acquires, leases, manages, and owns primarily Class A office assets and opportunistic mixed-use properties in Sunbelt markets with a focus on Georgia, Texas, and North Carolina. Cousins has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) and intends to, among other things, distribute 90% of its net taxable income to stockholders, thereby eliminating any liability for federal income taxes under current law. Therefore, the results included herein do not include a federal income tax provision for Cousins. CREC operates as a taxable REIT subsidiary and is taxed separately from Cousins as a C-Corporation. Accordingly, if applicable, the Company's statements of operations include a provision for, or benefit from, CREC's income taxes. The condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and were prepared by the Company in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In the opinion of management, these financial statements reflect all adjustments necessary (which adjustments are of a normal and recurring nature) for the fair presentation of the Company's financial position as of September 30, 2014 and the results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of results expected for the full year. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013. The accounting policies employed are substantially the same as those shown in note 2 to the consolidated financial statements included in such Form 10-K. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, there were no items of other comprehensive income. Therefore, no presentation of comprehensive income is required. The Company evaluates all partnerships, joint ventures and other arrangements with variable interests to determine if the entity or arrangement qualifies as a variable interest entity (“VIE”), as defined in the Financial Accounting Standards Board's ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC"). If the entity or arrangement qualifies as a VIE and the Company is determined to be the primary beneficiary, the Company is required to consolidate the assets, liabilities, and results of operations of the VIE. In August 2014, the Company acquired a building and transferred it to a special purpose entity to facilitate a potential Section 1031 exchange under the Internal Revenue Code. To realize the tax deferral available under the Section 1031 exchange, the Company must complete the Section 1031 exchange, if any, and take title to the to-be-exchanged building within 180 days of the acquisition date. The Company has determined that this entity is a VIE, and the Company is the primary beneficiary. Therefore, the Company consolidates this entity. As of September 30, 2014, this VIE had total assets of $215.0 million, no significant liabilities, and no significant cash flows. In April 2014, the FASB issued new guidance related to the presentation of discontinued operations. Prior to this new guidance, the Company included activity for all assets held for sale and disposals in discontinued operations on the statements of operations. Under the new guidance, only assets held for sale and disposals representing a major strategic shift in operations, such as the disposal of a line of business, a significant geographical area, or a major equity investment, will be presented as discontinued operations. Additionally, the new guidance requires expanded disclosures about discontinued operations that will provide more information about their assets, liabilities, income, and expenses. The guidance is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2014. Early adoption is permitted, but only for disposals (or classifications as held for sale) that have not been reported in financial statements previously issued. The Company adopted this guidance in 2014. In May 2014, the FASB issued new guidance related to the accounting for revenue from contracts with customers. Under the new guidance, companies will recognize revenue when the seller satisfies a performance obligation, which would be when the buyer takes control of the good or service. This new guidance could result in different amounts of revenue being recognized and could result in revenue being recognized in different reporting periods than it is under the current guidance. The new guidance specifically excludes revenue associated with lease contracts. The guidance is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and early adoption is prohibited.

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein include the accounts of Cousins Properties Incorporated (“Cousins”) and its consolidated subsidiaries, including Cousins Real Estate Corporation and its subsidiaries (“CREC”). All of the entities included in the condensed consolidated financial statements are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Company.”

The Company develops, acquires, leases, manages, and owns primarily Class A office assets and opportunistic mixed-use properties in Sunbelt markets with a focus on Georgia, Texas, and North Carolina. Cousins has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) and intends to, among other things, distribute 90% of its net taxable income to stockholders, thereby eliminating any liability for federal income taxes under current law. Therefore, the results included herein do not include a federal income tax provision for Cousins. CREC operates as a taxable REIT subsidiary and is taxed separately from Cousins as a C-Corporation. Accordingly, if applicable, the Company's statements of operations include a provision for, or benefit from, CREC's income taxes.

The condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and were prepared by the Company in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In the opinion of management, these financial statements reflect all adjustments necessary (which adjustments are of a normal and recurring nature) for the fair presentation of the Company's financial position as of September 30, 2014 and the results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of results expected for the full year. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013. The accounting policies employed are substantially the same as those shown in note 2 to the consolidated financial statements included in such Form 10-K.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, there were no items of other comprehensive income. Therefore, no presentation of comprehensive income is required.

The Company evaluates all partnerships, joint ventures and other arrangements with variable interests to determine if the entity or arrangement qualifies as a variable interest entity (“VIE”), as defined in the Financial Accounting Standards Board's ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC"). If the entity or arrangement qualifies as a VIE and the Company is determined to be the primary beneficiary, the Company is required to consolidate the assets, liabilities, and results of operations of the VIE.

In August 2014, the Company acquired a building and transferred it to a special purpose entity to facilitate a potential Section 1031 exchange under the Internal Revenue Code. To realize the tax deferral available under the Section 1031 exchange, the Company must complete the Section 1031 exchange, if any, and take title to the to-be-exchanged building within 180 days of the acquisition date. The Company has determined that this entity is a VIE, and the Company is the primary beneficiary. Therefore, the Company consolidates this entity. As of September 30, 2014, this VIE had total assets of $215.0 million, no significant liabilities, and no significant cash flows.

In April 2014, the FASB issued new guidance related to the presentation of discontinued operations. Prior to this new guidance, the Company included activity for all assets held for sale and disposals in discontinued operations on the statements of operations. Under the new guidance, only assets held for sale and disposals representing a major strategic shift in operations, such as the disposal of a line of business, a significant geographical area, or a major equity investment, will be presented as discontinued operations. Additionally, the new guidance requires expanded disclosures about discontinued operations that will provide more information about their assets, liabilities, income, and expenses. The guidance is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2014. Early adoption is permitted, but only for disposals (or classifications as held for sale) that have not been reported in financial statements previously issued. The Company adopted this guidance in 2014.

In May 2014, the FASB issued new guidance related to the accounting for revenue from contracts with customers. Under the new guidance, companies will recognize revenue when the seller satisfies a performance obligation, which would be when the buyer takes control of the good or service. This new guidance could result in different amounts of revenue being recognized and could result in revenue being recognized in different reporting periods than it is under the current guidance. The new guidance specifically excludes revenue associated with lease contracts. The guidance is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and early adoption is prohibited.