-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 FtdBybcu4D6x6ug2wfqqnyM37q8ugn/UtpKu1zcqk1mHh5kSwuSjkMJlB5uKtV4a
 95hIfxgdfpqWjYEaDuP5hg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001188038-04-000001.txt : 20040121
<SEC-HEADER>0001188038-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040121
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040121173954
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001188038-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040120
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040121

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COLONIAL PROPERTIES TRUST
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000909111
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				597007599
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			AL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2101 SIXTH AVE N STE 750
		STREET 2:		STE 750
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35203
		BUSINESS PHONE:		205-250-8700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2101 6TH AVE N STE 750
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35203

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			THOMPSON C REYNOLDS III
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001188038

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	033-65954
		FILM NUMBER:		04536097

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2101 6TH AVE NORTH STE 750
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35203
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2052508715

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2101 6TH AVE N STE 750
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35203
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-20</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000909111</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COLONIAL PROPERTIES TRUST</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CLP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001188038</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>THOMPSON C REYNOLDS III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2101 6TH AVE N STE 750</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BIRMINGHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>35203</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>COO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>398</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>38.95</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12124</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>635</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 401(k)</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

    </nonDerivativeTable>



    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>John P. Rigrish as Attorney-in-Fact for C. Reynolds Thompson, III</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----