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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 FdjUdNxcDnF70KTi7D/XtcRs9QYl6flOsWPmTiGfxJWl9WFDqdJpQglgi+7u7ss+
 rlzooZBgtm1d2F7E82A0tQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-015044.txt : 20030801
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-015044.hdr.sgml : 20030801
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030801172131
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-015044
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030731
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030801

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BLAIR BRYCE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001219691

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12672
		FILM NUMBER:		03818836

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		AVALONBAY COMMUNITIES INC
		STREET 2:		2900 EISENHOWER AVE.
		CITY:			ALEXANDRIA
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22314
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-31</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000915912</issuerCik><issuerName>AVALONBAY COMMUNITIES INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>AVB</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001219691</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>BLAIR BRYCE</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>C/O AVALONBAY COMMUNITIES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>2900 EISENHOWER AVE., SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>ALEXANDRIA</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>22314</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>CEO and President</officerTitle></reportin
gOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, par value $.01 per share</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-31</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>45.92</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>136587.596</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><
securityTitle><value>Common Stock, par value $.01 per share</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>435</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Held in trust for minor children</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><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">No transaction is reported.  The ownership number is reported for information purposes only</footnote></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>By Edward M. Schulman as attorney in fact under Power of Attorney dated as of January 1, 2000</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-01</signatureDate></ownerSignature></owners
hipDocument>

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