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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001228532-04-000019.txt : 20040521
<SEC-HEADER>0001228532-04-000019.hdr.sgml : 20040521
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040521145035
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001228532-04-000019
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040519
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040521

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ADKINS RALPH J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001228531

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11590
		FILM NUMBER:		04823908

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CHESAPEAKE UTILITIES CORP
		STREET 2:		909 SILVER LAKE BLVD
		CITY:			DOVER
		STATE:			DE
		ZIP:			19904
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3027346799

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHESAPEAKE UTILITIES CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000019745
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION & DISTRIBUTION [4923]
		IRS NUMBER:				510064146
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		909 SILVER LAKE BLVD
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 615
		CITY:			DOVER
		STATE:			DE
		ZIP:			19903-0615
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3027346799

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		909 SILVER LAKE BLVD
		CITY:			DOVER
		STATE:			DE
		ZIP:			19904
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000019745</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CHESAPEAKE UTILITIES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>cpk</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001228531</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ADKINS RALPH J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></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>2004-05-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9354</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.7</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>57184</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares of Common stock surrendered in settlement of a tax withholding obligation associated with the settlement of Deferred Stock Units (&quot;DSUs&quot;) issued under the Chesapeake Utilities Corporation Executive Deferral Program.  In accordance with SEC staff interpretative advice, the DSUs, because they were convertible on a one-for-one basis into shares of Common stock, have been previously reported as shares of Common stock.  Accordingly, the settlement of the DSUs otherwise had no effect on the number of shares of Common stock shown as beneficially owned.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Of these shares, 16,893 shares are indirectly owned via the Company's Retirement Savings Plan (401k) and 4,554 are indirectly owned by the wife of Mr. Adkins.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michael P. McMasters, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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