-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QcdvguhWakIKJjs5ZCLJd+GbYQjxW/xX3lJJPSQpzc1fIkxlN88+gKO9DDhz/7rm
 X+0P/tePYMe/SRNi4HzJzw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000920522-10-000019.txt : 20100520
<SEC-HEADER>0000920522-10-000019.hdr.sgml : 20100520
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100520180401
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000920522-10-000019
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100518
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100520
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100520

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Burkart John F.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001492460

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13106
		FILM NUMBER:		10848894

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST INC.
		STREET 2:		925 EAST MEADOW DRIVE
		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>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-05-18</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001492460</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Burkart John F.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>925 EAST MEADOW DRIVE</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 Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12574</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series Z-1 Incentive Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Series Z Unit Incentive</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3655</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series Z-1 Incentive Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Series Z Unit Incentive</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4706</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series Z Incentive Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Series Z Unit Incentive</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1470</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents the grant of Series Z-1 Incentive Units pursuant to the Essex Portfolio, L.P. Long Term Incentive Plan issued in March 2004.The conversion ratchet percentage, initially set at 20% will increase by up to 10% on January 1 of each year for each holder of Series Z-1 Incentive Units who remains employed by Essex Property Trust, Inc. and has met a specified 'funds from operations' per share target or other criteria established by the Compensation Committee, for the prior year, up to the maximum Conversion Ratchet Percentage of 100%. These Units have no expiration date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents the grant of Series Z-1 Incentive Units pursuant to the Essex Portfolio, L.P. Long Term Incentive Plan issued in December 2005. The conversion ratchet percentage, initially set at 20% will increase by up to 10% on January 1 of each year for each holder of Series Z-1 Incentive Units who remains employed by Essex Property Trust, Inc. and has met a specified 'funds from operations' per share target or other criteria established by the Compensation Committee, for the prior year, up to the maximum Conversion Ratchet Percentage of 100%. These Units have no expiration date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents the grant of Series Z Incentive Units pursuant to the Essex Portfolio, L.P. Long Term Incentive Plan issued in June 2001. The conversion ratchet percentage, initially set at 20% will increase by up to 10% on January 1 of each year for each holder of Series Z Incentive Units who remains employed by Essex Property Trust, Inc. and has met a specified 'funds from operations' per share target or other criteria established by the Compensation Committee, for the prior year, up to the maximum Conversion Ratchet Percentage of 100%. These Units have no expiration date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The reporting person exchanged 12,574 series Z incentive units of Essex Portfolio, L.P. ('EPLP') into 12,574 limited partnership units of EPLP and in turn exchanged such units into 12,574 shares of the issuer. The issuer is the general partner of EPLP.  Common units of EPLP have no set expiration date. All of the common stock issued is subject to liquidity restrictions and cannot be sold, transferred or margined until after January 1, 2011.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">A capital contribution of $1.00 per series Z &amp; Z-1 Incentive Units.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michael T. Dance (Attorney-in-Fact)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-05-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----