-----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,
 LHpRoxwvGMNG1qEx9TfLN+iTWkwMYwSw8dPBd+3IZa+vC1A3UpcQFms+YMQRskBJ
 n3ggPx6VtleHsoLGjQzX4Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000912595-03-000212.txt : 20031205
<SEC-HEADER>0000912595-03-000212.hdr.sgml : 20031205
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031205142829
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000912595-03-000212
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031205
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031205

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GRINALDS JOHN S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001189266

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12762
		FILM NUMBER:		031040036

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6584 POPLAR AVE
		STREET 2:		STE 300
		CITY:			MEMPHIS
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			38138
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9016826600

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MID AMERICA APARTMENT COMMUNITIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000912595
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				621543819
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6584 POPLAR AVE
		STREET 2:		STE 340
		CITY:			MEMPHIS
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			38138
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9016826600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6584 POPLAR AVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 340
		CITY:			MEMPHIS
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			38138
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001189266d20031205f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-05</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000912595</issuerCik><issuerName>MID AMERICA APARTMENT COMMUNITIES INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>MAA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001189266</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>GRINALDS JOHN S</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>6584 POPLAR AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>MEMPHIS</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>TN</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>38138-</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Preferred Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1009.4565</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>140</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTran
sactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>IRA</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-05</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>P</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>15</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>32.98</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>228</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directO
rIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>The Citadel Trust FBO General John Grinalds</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>27.6875</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1999-05-12</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-05-12</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivative
Holding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>6939.1715</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6939.1715</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Leslie Bratten Cantrell Wolfgang</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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