May 29, 2013

Tom Kluck

Accounting Branch Chief

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

Division of Corporate Finance

450 Fifth Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20549

RE: Essex Property Trust, Inc.

Form 10-K for Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2012

Filed February 25, 2013

File No. 1-13106

Dear Mr. Kluck:

Essex Property Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation ("Essex"), respectfully requests additional time to respond to the comment letter, dated May 14, 2013, from the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, related to the above filing.  Essex plans to submit its response on or before June 12, 2013.  Please contact me if this schedule is in any way a problem.

Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely,

/s/ Michael T. Dance

Michael T. Dance

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Essex Property Trust, Inc.

925 East Meadow Drive

Palo Alto, CA 94303

Phone: +1 650 494 3700

Fax: +1 650 494 8743

Email: mdance@essexpropertytrust.com