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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-11-18</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001449444</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Pegasus Capital Advisors IV, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>99 RIVER ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>COS COB</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06807</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001449443</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Pegasus Capital Advisors IV GP, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>99 RIVER ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>COS COB</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06807</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001032672</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>COGUT CRAIG M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O APOLLO ADVISORS LP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2 MANHATTANVILLE RD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PURCHASE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10577</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-11-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>26569</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.75</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>26569</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-11-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>13285</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13284</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-11-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>13284</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Price is based upon the average closing price of the stock for the period beginning September 1, 2009 and ending September 30, 2009 as payment in lieu of cash for directors fees for the third quarter of 2009. The average price of the stock for September 2009 was $0.752757 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reported securities were issued to Richard Weinberg, who is a partner of an affiliate of Pegasus Capital Advisors IV, L.P. (&quot;Pegasus Advisors&quot;). The reported securities are owned directly by Pegasus Advisors and indirectly by Pegasus Capital Advisors IV GP, LLC (&quot;Pegasus Advisors GP&quot;), the general partner of Pegasus Advisors, and Craig Cogut (&quot;Mr. Cogut&quot;) together with Pegasus Advisors and Pegasus Advisors GP, (the &quot;Reporting Persons&quot;), the sole owner and managing member of Pegasus Advisors GP. By virtue of the foregoing, the Reporting Persons may be deemed to share voting power and power to direct the disposition of the securities reported herein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The Reporting Persons state that neither the filing of this statement nor anything herein shall be deemed an admission that such person is, for purposes of Section 16 or otherwise, the beneficial owner of any securities covered by this statement. The Reporting Persons disclaim beneficial ownership of the securities covered by this statement, except to the extent of the pecuniary interest of such person in such securities.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>This report is filed jointly by Pegasus Capital Advisors IV, L.P., Pegasus Capital Advisors IV GP, LLC and Craig Cogut, who may be deemed to be a 10% owner. Pegasus Capital Advisors IV, L.P. may be deemed a director by virtue of its right, which is held indirectly by virtue of its membership interest in LED Holdings, LLC, to nominate a representative to serve on Lighting Science Group Corporation's board of directors. Richard Weinberg currently serves as a representative of Pegasus Capital Advisors IV, L.P. on the board of directors of Lighting Science Group Corporation.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Daniel Stencel</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-11-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Daniel Stencel</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-11-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Craig Cogut</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-11-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
