-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Tka3asQbW6+WUQfCtLeXoPa5owzuLzZl1WArRyarH0OTBtqqwy10diauzCXhfaEH
 Iahh5lYooCDXhiN/H1Wa4Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001245655-06-000001.txt : 20060511
<SEC-HEADER>0001245655-06-000001.hdr.sgml : 20060511
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060511135620
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001245655-06-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060509
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060511
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060511

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FLORIDA PUBLIC UTILITIES CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000037643
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRIC & OTHER SERVICES COMBINED [4931]
		IRS NUMBER:				590539080
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			FL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		401 S DIXIE HWY
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 3395
		CITY:			WEST PALM BEACH
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33401
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5618322461

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 3395
		CITY:			WEST PALM BEACH
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33402-3395

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HITCHINS RICHARD C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001245655

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10608
		FILM NUMBER:		06829292

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5618328833

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		325 S OLIVE AVENUE
		CITY:			WEST PALM BEACH
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33401
</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>2006-05-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000037643</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FLORIDA PUBLIC UTILITIES CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>fpu</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001245655</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HITCHINS RICHARD C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>325 S OLIVE AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WEST PALM BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33401</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>fpu common stock $1.50 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-05-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>598</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.37</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6355</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <remarks>Director compensation</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Bonnie Erdek</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-05-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----