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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-01-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000784011</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>POPE RESOURCES LTD PARTNERSHIP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>POPE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001239047</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>POPE MARIA M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PORTLAND GENERAL ELECTRIC CO.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>121 SW SALMON ST</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PORTLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>97204</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Limited Partnership Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-01-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>776</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>64.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>21101</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 1,125 units held jointly with Reporting Person's spouse for which Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership except to the extent of her pecuniary interest therein.  This total also includes 640 units held in trust for children of the Reporting Person for which Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership except to the extent of her pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Sean M. Tallarico, Power of Attorney for Maria M. Pope</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-01-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
