<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-05-03</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001084717</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PACIFIC CONTINENTAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PCBK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001224807</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BUSSE ROGER S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>111 W 7TH AVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EUGENE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>97401</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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    <derivativeTable>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.66</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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                <value></value>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2198</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.66</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
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                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
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                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.66</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8831</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of PCBK common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Restricted stock units vest in four equal annual installments beginning May 1, 2013, 2014, 2015. Vesting shares will be delivered to the reporting person on the earlier od (a) the exercise by the reporting person of the vested restricted stock unit or (b) two and half months after the end of the first taxable year in which the units are no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture period.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Roger Busse</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-05-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
