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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-07-05</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001295286</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Maxik Fred</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O LIGHTING SCIENCE GROUP CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>BUILDING 2A, 1227 SOUTH PATRICK DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SATELLITE BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>32937</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Technology Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options (Right to Buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.34</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-07-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>933333</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2013-07-05</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2022-07-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Option:Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>933333</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2683333</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These options were granted to Mr. Maxik pursuant to the Issuer's 2012 Amended and Restated Equity-Based Compensation Plan, and vest as follows: 25% of the options vest on July 5, 2013; 25% vest on July 5, 2014; 25% vest on July 5, 2015; and the final 25% vest on July 5, 2016.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This includes: (i) a grant to Mr. Maxik on April 17, 2008 of options to purchase 75,000 shares, expiring on April 17,2013, and having an exercise price of $4.90 per share. These options are fully vested; (ii) a grant to Mr. Maxik on May 7, 2008 of 175,000 restricted shares of the Issuer's Common Stock. These shares are fully vested; (iii) a grant to Mr. Maxik on August 21, 2009 of options to purchase 1,500,000 shares, expiring on August 21, 2019, and having an exercise price of $1.00 per share. These options are fully vested; and (iv) the grant to Mr. Maxik on July 5, 2012 of options to purchase 933,333 shares, as reported on this Form 4.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Zvi Raskin, by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-07-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
