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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-03-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000866970</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LIGHTING SCIENCE GROUP CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LSCG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001267424</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BACHMAN ROBERT E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O USGT INVESTORS MANAGEMENT CO</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3838 OAK LAWN AVENUE SUITE 1775</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DALLAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75219</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>2009-03-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>33956</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.59</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>183479</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>USGT Investors, LP</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Price is based upon the average closing price of the stock for the period beginning December 1, 2008 and ending December 31, 2008 as payment in lieu of cash for directors fees for the fourth quarter of 2008. The average price of the stock for December 2008 was $0.59 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes: (i) 5,554 shares issuable by the issuer to USGT Investors, LP (&quot;USGT&quot;) pursuant to the conversion of 6% Convertible Preferred Stock of the issuer; (ii) 22,187 shares issuable pursuant to the exercise of warrants at a price of $6.00 per share (all of which are vested); (iii) 2,500 shares issuable pursuant to the exercise of options at a price of $17.40 per share (all of which are vested); (iv) 2,500 shares issuable pursuant to the exercise of options at a price of $10.60 per share (all of which are vested); (v) 40,000 shares issuable pursuant to the exercise of options at a price of $6.40 per share (all of which are vested); and (vi) 6,250 shares issuable to USGT pursuant to the exercise of options at a price of $10.80 per share (one-half of which are vested and one-fourth of which will vest on each anniversary date until 8/2/10.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert E. Bachman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-03-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
