-----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,
 Uafkf45Namfqudu9t/W2CsipjS7V/NHnIKZs98/OI16Wan1jBCQpr0OauSkTEOSc
 HzOzV5gTQ7P+GYAiPlc1Sw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000940314-03-000001.txt : 20030925
<SEC-HEADER>0000940314-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030925
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030925150047
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000940314-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030924
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030925

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COOPER MILTON
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000940314

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10899
		FILM NUMBER:		03909944

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O KIMCO REALTY CORP
		STREET 2:		3333 NEW HYDE PARK RD STE 100
		CITY:			HYDER PARK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11042

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KIMCO REALTY CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000879101
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				132744380
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3333 NEW HYDE PARK RD
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 5020
		CITY:			NEW HYDE PARK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11042
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5168699000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3333 NEW HYDE PARK ROAD
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 5020
		CITY:			NEW HYDE PARKQ
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11042
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-09-24</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000879101</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KIMCO REALTY CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>KIM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000940314</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>COOPER MILTON</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O KIMCO REALTY CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3333 NEW HYDE PARK RD STE 100</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HYDER PARK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11042</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Kimco Realty Corp. Common Stock par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-09-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4687</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.3333</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5118680.7957</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>



    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Milton Cooper</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-09-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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