<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000912057-01-534836
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>2
<PERIOD>20011009
<ITEMS>5
<ITEMS>7
<FILING-DATE>20011009
<FILER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>AVALONBAY COMMUNITIES INC
<CIK>0000915912
<ASSIGNED-SIC>6798
<IRS-NUMBER>770404318
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>MD
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>8-K
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-12672
<FILM-NUMBER>1754875
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>2900 EISENHOWER AVENUE
<STREET2>SUITE 300
<CITY>ALEXANDRIA
<STATE>VA
<ZIP>22314
<PHONE>7033296300
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>2900 EISENHOWER AVENUE
<STREET2>STE 300
<CITY>ALEXANDRIA
<STATE>VA
<ZIP>22314
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>AVALON BAY COMMUNITIES INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19980618
</FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>BAY APARTMENT COMMUNITIES INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19931208
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</FILER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a2060674z8-k.txt
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 8-K
<TEXT>
<Page>

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                         -------------------------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                       ----------------------------------


        DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED): OCTOBER 9, 2001

                           AVALONBAY COMMUNITIES, INC.
               (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN CHARTER)

<Table>
<Caption>
         MARYLAND                                     1-12672                                 77-0404318
-----------------------------                -------------------------                  ------------------------
<S>                                           <C>                                       <C>
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION                  (COMMISSION FILE NUMBER)                      (IRS EMPLOYER
        OF INCORPORATION)                                                                 IDENTIFICATION NO.)
</Table>


             2900 EISENHOWER AVENUE, SUITE 300, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314
             -------------------------------------------------------
               (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES) (ZIP CODE)

                                 (703) 329-6300
                                 --------------
              (REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE)



<Page>



ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

         On or about October 9, 2001, AvalonBay Communities, Inc. mailed a
letter to holders of record of its outstanding shares of common stock and
preferred stock notifying them that the Company has suspended its Dividend
Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan until further notice. A copy of that
letter is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by
reference.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION
         AND EXHIBITS.

(c)    Exhibits

<Table>
<S>                 <C>

       99.1         Letter, dated October 9, 2001, from the Company to its
                    stockholders.
</Table>


<Page>

                                   SIGNATURES

       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, the Company has duly caused this report to be filed on its behalf by
the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                         AVALONBAY COMMUNITIES, INC.



Dated: October 9, 2001                   By:  /s/ Thomas J. Sargeant
                                            ------------------------------------
                                         Name:  Thomas J. Sargeant
                                         Title: Executive Vice President, Chief
                                                Financial Officer and Treasurer

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>a2060674zex-99_1.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 99.1
<TEXT>

<Page>



                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1


[AVALONBAY LETTERHEAD]





                                           October 9, 2001


Dear Stockholder:

I am writing to notify you that we have suspended our Dividend Reinvestment and
Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan") until further notice. Accordingly, stockholders
will not be able to purchase shares of AvalonBay common stock under the Plan,
whether with an optional cash payment or a reinvestment of dividends, on October
15, 2001 or on any later dividend payment date until we announce that we have
resumed the Plan.

Any shares that our transfer agent and plan administrator now holds for you
under the Plan will continue to be held under the Plan unless you request
otherwise. Please contact our transfer agent and plan administrator at the
following address with any questions:

                    First Union National Bank
                    Attention: Shareholder Services Group
                    1525 West W.T. Harris Boulevard, 3C3
                    Charlotte, North Carolina 28288-1153

                    You may call First Union at (800) 829-8432.

Any funds submitted in anticipation of the October 15, 2001, payment date will
be promptly returned by First Union.

We thank you for your continued support and interest in AvalonBay.

                                           Sincerely,

                                           BRYCE BLAIR
                                           Chief Executive Officer and President



</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
