-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 IoA66+ytJ3mRnGh5D51wd1/kN+6a+aCN70VQ3OLtxbHEG9HP3D8TxnFEbQyZtpjw
 U3HbXp25en9EmN160g7Mow==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-10-010101.txt : 20100401
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-10-010101.hdr.sgml : 20100401
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100401201056
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-10-010101
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100331
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100401
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100401

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			O'Brien Joseph J Jr
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001407612

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19065
		FILM NUMBER:		10726344

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SANDY SPRING BANCORP, INC.
		STREET 2:		17801 GEORGIA AVENUE
		CITY:			OLNEY
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			20832

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SANDY SPRING BANCORP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000824410
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				520312970
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		17801 GEORGIA AVE
		CITY:			OLNEY
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			20832
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3017746400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		17801 GEORGIA AVENUE
		CITY:			OLNEY
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			20832
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-03-31</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000824410</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SANDY SPRING BANCORP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SASR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001407612</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>O'Brien Joseph J Jr</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>SANDY SPRING BANCORP, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>17801 GEORGIA AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>OLNEY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20832</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-03-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7950</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7950</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1592.36</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>401(k)</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2820</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>249</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>600</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5121</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>29.44</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-12-19</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-12-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1250</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1250</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>28.59</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-07-23</value>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-07-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>27.96</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-03-26</value>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-03-26</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted stock awarded under 2005 Omnibus Stock Plan vests in equal installments on the anniversary of the grant over five years beginning March 31, 2011 or as permissable under TARP regulations.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Restricted Stock awarded under the 2005 Omnibus Stock Plans vests ratably on the anniversary of the grant date over three years.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Restricted stock awarded under 2005 Omnibus Stock Plan vests in five equal, annual installments beginning on March 26, 2009.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Restricted stock awarded under 2005 Omnibus Stock Plan vests in equal installments on the anniversary of the grant over five years.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Stock Awards granted pursuant to the Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. 2005 Omnibus Stock Plan vest in three annual installments commencing on December 19, 2008.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Stock Options granted pursuant to the Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. 2005 Omnibus Stock Plan vest in three annual installments commencing on July 23, 2008.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Stock options granted under the 2005 Omnibus Stock Plan vest in equal annual increments on the first, second, and third anniversary of the grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Janet VA Replogle, attorney-in-fact for Mr. O'Brien</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-04-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----