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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2019-05-23</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2019-05-28</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000915912</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AVALONBAY COMMUNITIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AVB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001627576</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Brown Terry S.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>671 N. GLEBE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 800</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ARLINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>22203</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $.01</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6342.7267</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On May 28, 2019, the reporting person filed a Form 4 to report the grant of 785 deferred stock units.  The form omitted 112 deferred stock units granted on May 15, 2019 and reported on June 5, 2019.  The amount of securities beneficially owned following the reported transaction has been amended to include such units.


The amount of securities owned following the reported transaction reflects direct ownership of all shares of common stock, including Restricted Units, which may be subject to vesting requirements. The Restricted Units will convert into common stock when the reporting person ceases to be an employee or director of the issuer.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By Catherine T. White under Power of Attorney dated as of November 26, 2014.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2019-06-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
