-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 RkB7jdj5DvqWlCuIAjzIDgg0CIaKZeSHYNxFDD9aCOi0xFsme8AUZgqBkSV3Vrll
 iVYWB9Q1HW7Aw/iHeqgnPA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-005673.txt : 20030528
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-005673.hdr.sgml : 20030528
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030528141556
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-005673
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030523
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030528

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MEYER GILBERT M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001219698

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12672
		FILM NUMBER:		03721349

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		AVALONBAY COMMUNITIES INC
		STREET 2:		2900 EISENHOWER AVE.
		CITY:			ALEXANDRIA
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22314

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AVALONBAY COMMUNITIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000915912
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				770404318
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2900 EISENHOWER AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			ALEXANDRIA
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22314
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7033296300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2900 EISENHOWER AVENUE
		STREET 2:		STE 300
		CITY:			ALEXANDRIA
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22314

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AVALON BAY COMMUNITIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19980618

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BAY APARTMENT COMMUNITIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19931208
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-23</periodOfReport><issuer><issuerCik>0000915912</issuerCik><issuerName>AVALONBAY COMMUNITIES INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>AVB</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001219698</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>MEYER GILBERT M</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, par value $.01 per share</value></securityTitle><transactionDate>
<value>2003-05-23</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>25000</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>20</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1026565</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Options to Purchase Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>20</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-23</value></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>25000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F3" /></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1995-03-10</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2004-03-10</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>25000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>442400</value><footnoteId id="F4" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</val
ue></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The amount of securities owned following the reported transaction reflects direct ownership of all shares of common stock, including restricted shares.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The options exercised were included in options granted on March 10, 1994 which became exercisable in four equal annual installments beginning on March 10, 1995.</footnote><footnote id="F3">The exercised options were granted to the reporting person pursuant to the Company's Stock Option and Incentive Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F4">The amount of securities owned following the reported transaction includes options granted in prior periods with varying exercise prices and vesting dates.  Following the exercise described above, the reporting person holds no more options that expire on 3/10/2004 with an exercise price of $20.00.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Edward M. Schulman as attorney-in-fact under Power of Att
orney dated January 1, 2000</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-28</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----