-----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,
 BtiRPHhqwq7ohuNpDGmaCHnQ0FWy9eWiCueMZsXDAsLVVraUzmtYFc5TETNiwVKl
 Z45m8yxsTI3LvfYBWW1JKw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000920522-09-000010.txt : 20090213
<SEC-HEADER>0000920522-09-000010.hdr.sgml : 20090213
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090213183428
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000920522-09-000010
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090211
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090213
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090213

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ZIMMERMAN CRAIG K
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001200100

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13106
		FILM NUMBER:		09606109

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		650-849-1600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST
		STREET 2:		925 E MEADOW DR
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94303

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000920522
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				770369576
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		925 EAST MEADOW DR
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94303
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6504943700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		925 EAST MEADOW DRIVE
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94303
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-02-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000920522</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ESS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001200100</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ZIMMERMAN CRAIG K</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>925 E MEADOW DR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PALO ALTO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94303</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive V.P., Acquisitions</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock (By 401k)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-02-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2780</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>56.6</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2780</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Michael T. Dance, Attorney in fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-02-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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