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

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-03-01</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000910606</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>REGENCY CENTERS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>REG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001079522</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KATZMAN CHAIM</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1696 NE MIAMI GARDENS DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORTH MIAMI BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33179</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001135212</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GAZIT 1995 INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1696 NE MIAMI GARDENS DR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MIAMI BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33179</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001135214</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MGN USA INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1696 NE MIAMI GARDENS DR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MIAMI BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33179</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001379009</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Gazit-Globe Ltd</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1696 NE MIAMI GARDENS DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORTH MIAMI BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33179</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001529662</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GAZIT FIRST GENERATION LL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1696 NE MIAMI GARDENS DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORTH MIAMI BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33179</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001523778</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MGN America, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1696 NE MIAMI GARDENS DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORTH MIAMI BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33179</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001530769</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SILVER MAPLE (2001) INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1696 NE MIAMI GARDENS DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORTH MIAMI BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33179</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>Sec 13(d) group</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001530776</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FICUS INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1696 NE MIAMI GARDENS DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORTH MIAMI BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33179</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001530706</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GAZIT AMERICA INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>303-109 ATLANTIC AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TORONTO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>A6</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>M6K1X4</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>ONTARIO, CANADA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001698739</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MGN (USA) 2016, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1696 NE MIAMI GARDENS DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORTH MIAMI BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33179</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>160831</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>243605</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By MGN (USA) Inc.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2424085</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Ficus, Inc.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4001943</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Silver Maple (2001), Inc.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2596613</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By MGN America, LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4865540</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Gazit First Generation, LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2432869</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By MGN (USA) 2016, LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F9"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5769967</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By MGN America 2016, LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F10"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares acquired pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the &quot;Merger Agreement&quot;), dated as of November 14, 2016, by and among the Issuer and Equity One, Inc. (&quot;Equity One&quot;), pursuant to which Equity One merged with and into the Issuer with Issuer surviving the merger (the &quot;Merger&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger, each share of Equity One common stock, par value $0.01 per share, held by the reporting person was converted into the right to receive 0.45 shares of the Issuer's common stock, par value $0.01.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Shares held directly by Mr. Katzman.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Shares held directly by MGN (USA) Inc. (&quot;MGN USA&quot;). MGN USA is a member of a &quot;group&quot; with Mr. Katzman for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &quot;Exchange Act&quot;). MGN USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gazit-Globe Ltd. (&quot;Gazit-Globe&quot;). Mr. Katzman is the Chairman of the Board of Gazit-Globe. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of the reporting person's pecuniary interest therein, if any.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Shares owned directly by Ficus Inc. (&quot;Ficus&quot;). Ficus is a member of a &quot;group&quot; with Mr. Katzman for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act. Ficus is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gazit America Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gazit-Globe. Mr. Katzman is the Chairman of the Board of Gazit-Globe. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of the reporting person's pecuniary interest therein, if any.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Shares owned directly by Silver Maple (2001) Inc. (&quot;Silver Maple&quot;). Silver Maple is a member of a &quot;group&quot; with Mr. Katzman for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act. Silver Maple is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gazit America Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gazit-Globe. Mr. Katzman is the Chairman of the Board of Gazit-Globe. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of the reporting person's pecuniary interest therein, if any.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Shares owned directly by MGN America, LLC (&quot;MGN America&quot;). MGN America is a member of a &quot;group&quot; with Mr. Katzman for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act. MGN America is also wholly-owned by MGN USA and Gazit 1995, Inc. (&quot;1995&quot;), wholly-owned subsidiaries of Gazit-Globe. Mr. Katzman is the Chairman of the Board of Gazit-Globe. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of the reporting person's pecuniary interest therein, if any.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Shares owned directly by Gazit First Generation, LLC (&quot;First Generation&quot;). First Generation is a member of a &quot;group&quot; with Mr. Katzman for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act. First Generation is a wholly owned subsidiary of 1995, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MGN USA, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gazit-Globe. Mr. Katzman is the Chairman of the Board of Gazit-Globe. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of the reporting person's pecuniary interest therein, if any.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">Shares held directly by MGN (USA) 2016, LLC (&quot;MGN USA 2016&quot;). MGN USA 2016 is a member of a &quot;group&quot; with Mr. Katzman for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act. MGN USA 2016 is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MGN USA, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gazit-Globe. Mr. Katzman is the Chairman of the Board of Gazit-Globe. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of the reporting person's pecuniary interest therein, if any.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F10">Shares owned directly by MGN America 2016, LLC (&quot;MGN America 2016&quot;). MGN America 2016 is a member of a &quot;group&quot; with Mr. Katzman for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act. MGN America 2016 is also wholly-owned subsidiary of MGN America, which is wholly-owned by MGN USA and 1995, wholly-owned subsidiaries of Gazit-Globe. Mr. Katzman is the Chairman of the Board of Gazit-Globe. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of the reporting person's pecuniary interest therein, if any.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>On the basis of the relationship between each of Mr. Katzman and Gazit-Globe, Gazit-Globe and its controlled direct and indirect subsidiaries may be directors of the issuer by deputization for the purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

Because no more than 10 reporting persons can file any one Form 3 through the Securities and Exchange Commission's EDGAR system, MGN America 2016, LLC has filed a separate Form 3.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Chaim Katzman by Michael B. Kirwan, as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-03-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
