-----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,
 AB8RSYD9wFbB2zfJHJltdJ29byeO0tTSQ0xfDRJysJiWS7PX/Cai62yryLIwweAk
 W+LMr3oZo7g5QZsPDdzaew==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-04-010321.txt : 20040416
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-04-010321.hdr.sgml : 20040416
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040416120430
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-04-010321
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040414
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040416

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HERITAGE OAKS BANCORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000921547
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				770388249
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		545 12TH ST
		CITY:			PASO ROBLES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93446
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8052395200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 2:		545 12TH ST
		CITY:			PASO ROBLES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93446

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WARD LAWRENCE P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001191269

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25020
		FILM NUMBER:		04737488

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2495 DRY WELL PL
		CITY:			PASO ROBLES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93446
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8052395200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2495 DRY WELL PL
		CITY:			PASO ROBLES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93446
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000921547</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HERITAGE OAKS BANCORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HEOP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001191269</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WARD LAWRENCE P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2495 DRY WELL PLACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PASO ROBLES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>93446</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>685</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.50</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>210995</value>
                </valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Tana L Eade power of attorney for Lawrence P Ward</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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