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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,
 C5iw0BQ8Zf6zZRhoWn6mv3RkHgCpo6So3Pioyc7LN3hRkP8VpxPAxsvzt6uZvK/f
 KaVZqT+AKjvU7+va/JxchQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001213950-03-000040.txt : 20031229
<SEC-HEADER>0001213950-03-000040.hdr.sgml : 20031225
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031229143717
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001213950-03-000040
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031226
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031229

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WILSON JOHN OLIVER
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001213280

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08029
		FILM NUMBER:		031075198

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		50 WEST SAN FERNANDO ST
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95113

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001213280d20031229f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-26</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000085974</issuerCik><issuerName>RYLAND GROUP INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>RYL</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001213280</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>WILSON JOHN OLIVER</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>P. O. BOX 507</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>ST. HELENA</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>94574</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDeriva
tiveHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2010.1456</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-26</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>60</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>92.4955</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value
></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>60</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Rabbi Trust</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Acquisition relates to a distribution pursuant to The Ryland Group, Inc. Non-Employee Director's Stock Unit Plan as part of a director's annual compensation.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Shares held by the Ryland Executive and Director Deferred Compensation Plan and allocated to the account of the Reporting Person pursuant to the Plan.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Sheri L. Markham, Attorney-In-Fact for John O. Wilson</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-29</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDo
cument>

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