<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-28</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000353191</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NORTH VALLEY BANCORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NOVB</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001173567</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CUSHMAN M J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>President, CEO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-28</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>F</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>265</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>15.9</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>331</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Spouse-IRA</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Shares above reflect 3 for 2 stock split declared 4/15/03, payable 5/15/03.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Michael J. Cushman</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-28</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

