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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 RELqQEmNXPwOcYZqoZMugqLPj5BTn42SmnRDlXoYvgb5PuiciM4SbpPx4cy5UPYQ
 wjskFJhmhuU1E559Zp9duw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001213950-04-000006.txt : 20040102
<SEC-HEADER>0001213950-04-000006.hdr.sgml : 20040101
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040102132259
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001213950-04-000006
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040102

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:			METCALFE NORMAN J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001214407

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08029
		FILM NUMBER:		04500788

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2007 BAYADERE TERRACE
		CITY:			CORONA DEL MAR
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92625
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9497231529

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2007 BAYADERE TERRACE
		CITY:			CORONA DEL MAR
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92625
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001214407d20040102f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000085974</issuerCik><issuerName>RYLAND GROUP INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>RYL</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001214407</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>METCALFE NORMAN J</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>2007 BAYADERE TERRACE</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>CORONA DEL MAR</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>92625</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable
></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>88.64</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-31</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-06-30</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-12-31</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurit
yShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The reporting person was granted an option to purchase 10,000 shares of common stock pursuant to The Ryland Group, Inc. 2000 Non-Employee Director Equity Plan.  The option vests in one installment on June 30, 2004.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Sheri L. Markham, Attorney-In-Fact for Norman J. Metcalfe</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-02</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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