-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 T9Yf1CpyqAxfeGyb7hH7ow==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001200997-05-000004.txt : 20050121
<SEC-HEADER>0001200997-05-000004.hdr.sgml : 20050121
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050121162445
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001200997-05-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050119
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050121
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050121

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000356309
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION [4924]
		IRS NUMBER:				222376465
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NJ
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1415 WYCKOFF RD
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 1468
		CITY:			WALL
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07719
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9089381494

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1350 CAMPUS PKWY
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 1468
		CITY:			WALL
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07719

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LIGHT DOROTHY K
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001242467

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08359
		FILM NUMBER:		05541867

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NEW JERSEY RESOURCES
		STREET 2:		1415 WYCKOFF ROAD
		CITY:			WALL
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07719
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7329381480

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		1415 WYCKOFF ROAD
		CITY:			WALL
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07719
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-01-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000356309</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NJR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001242467</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LIGHT DOROTHY K</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1415 WYCKOFF ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WALL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07719</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-01-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>754</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>42.26</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>754</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2224.641</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This security converts to Common Stock on a 1-for-1 basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Phantom Stock units represent an annual common stock retainer and fees that are deferred pursuant to New Jersey Resources Corporation (NJR) Directors Deferred Compensation Plan and are to be paid in NJR Common stock in 5 annual installments when the reporting person ceases to be a director.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Total includes an accrual for reinvested dividends.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Oleta J. Harden - Attorney-In-Fact (POA on file)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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