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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-10-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000866970</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LIGHTING SCIENCE GROUP CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LSGP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001267424</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BACHMAN ROBERT E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O USGT INVESTORS MANAGEMENT CO</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3838 OAK LAWN AVENUE SUITE 1775</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DALLAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75219</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>2006-10-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>234348</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2266911</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>USGT Investors, LP</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">(a) On October 11, 2006, the issuer issued 54,348 shares of common stock to Mr. Snadon in and as consideration of and for service on the board of directors of the issuer during the quarter ended September 30, 2006.

(b) On October 11, 2006, the issuer issued 180,000 shares of common stock to Mr. Snadon in and as consideration of and for service on the a committee of the board of directors of the issuer during the quarter ended September 30, 2006.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes: (i) 66,644 shares issuable by the issuer to USGT Investors, LP (&quot;USGT&quot;) pursuant to the conversion of 6% Convertible Preferred Stock of the issuer; (ii) 406,239 shares issuable to USGT pursuant to the exercise of warrants at a price of $0.30 per share; (iii) 30,000 shares issuable to USGT pursuant to the exercise of warrants at a price of $1.50 per share; (iv) 50,000 shares issuable to USGT pursuant to the exercise of options at a price of $0.87 per share (two-thirds of which are vested and one-third of which will vest on 9/19/2007); (v) 50,000 shares issuable to USGT pursuant to the exercise of options at a price of $0.53 per share (one-third of which are vested, one-third of which will vest on 10/31/06, and one-third of which will vest on 10/31/07); and (vi) 800,000 shares issuable to USGT pursuant to the exercise of options at a price of $0.32 per share (one third of which are vested, one-third of which will vest on 2/20/07, and one-third of which will vest on 2/20/08).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert E. Bachman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-10-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
