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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-03-05</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2013-03-06</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001035201</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>cwt</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001241839</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BROWN DOUGLAS M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1720 NORTH FIRST STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN JOSE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95112</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-03-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1033</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.62</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>24341</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Form 4A filed to correct the Transaction Code. The transaction was an acquisition (A) exempt under Rule 16b-3. The original Form 4, filed on March 6, 2013, indicated that the transaction was a purchase (P), which would not be an exempt transaction.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The original Form 4 incorrectly stated that Mr. Brown was granted 2,751 shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>The restricted stock vests 100% on May 17, 2013.  The original Form 4 incorrectly stated that the restricted stock vests with a one-year cliff vesting term, vesting 100% on the first anniversary of the grant date.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lynne McGhee</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-04-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
