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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 MDJ8chIalWnjavP5s5lIegWhhzayRd7CcaECzGPV4igyN7obrS80g8X/YNYgG/MM
 iGFP3K1qRuW4nptbDti4tg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001213950-03-000023.txt : 20031027
<SEC-HEADER>0001213950-03-000023.hdr.sgml : 20031027
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031027184728
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001213950-03-000023
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031024
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031027

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RYLAND GROUP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000085974
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	OPERATIVE BUILDERS [1531]
		IRS NUMBER:				520849948
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		24025 PARK SORRENTO
		STREET 2:		SUITE 400
		CITY:			CALABASAS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91302
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8182237500

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	RYAN JAMES P CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19720414

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FRISTOE DAVID L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001214409

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08029
		FILM NUMBER:		03959381

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3400 CORDOVA DRIVE
		CITY:			CALABASAS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91302
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8182237500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3400 CORDOVA DRIVE
		CITY:			CALABASAS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91302
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001214409d20031027f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-24</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000085974</issuerCik><issuerName>RYLAND GROUP INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>RYL</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001214409</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>FRISTOE DAVID L</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>3400 CORDOVA DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>CALABASAS</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>91302</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDeri
vativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-10-24</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10050</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>12.07</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>27724</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><
nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-10-24</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10050</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>85.0694</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>17674</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivat
iveTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>12.07</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-10-24</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10050</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2001-09-01</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-09-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10050</value></underlyingSecurityShares></und
erlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Includes 974 shares held by the Ryland Retirement Savings Opportunity Plan and allocated to the account of the Reporting Person pursuant to the conversion of shares of Series A ESOP Convertible Preferred Shares held by the Plan as required by Section 409(1)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The Stock Option vested in three equal installments on September 1, 2001, 2002 and 2003.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Sheri L. Markham, Attorney-In-Fact for</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-27</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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