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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 VDszt1Flb12DfVgSxxOgMg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000751364-04-000047.txt : 20040422
<SEC-HEADER>0000751364-04-000047.hdr.sgml : 20040422
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040422171559
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000751364-04-000047
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040421
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040422

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WHITEHURST JULIAN E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001214565

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11290
		FILM NUMBER:		04748823

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		450 S. ORANGE AVE.
		CITY:			ORLANDO
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			32801

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COMMERCIAL NET LEASE REALTY INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000751364
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				561431377
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		450 S ORANGE AVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 900
		CITY:			ORLANDO
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			32801
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4074237348

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		455 S ORANGE AVE STE 700
		STREET 2:		400 E SOUTH ST STE 500
		CITY:			ORLANDO
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			32801

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CNL REALTY INVESTORS INC /DE/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930429

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CNL REALTY INVESTORS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920831

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GOLDEN CORRAL REALTY CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>whi37.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000751364</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COMMERCIAL NET LEASE REALTY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NNN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001214565</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WHITEHURST JULIAN E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>450 S. ORANGE AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 900</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ORLANDO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>32801</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP &amp;  General Counsel</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9249</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.8900</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>40049.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares were acquired pursuant to the  stock award under the Commercial Net Lease Realty, Inc. 2000 Performance Incentive Plan in a transaction under 16b-3.  Vesting begins in 2004 and is completed in 2010.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: /s/Julian E. Whitehurst</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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