<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000920522-16-000142.txt : 20161209
<SEC-HEADER>0000920522-16-000142.hdr.sgml : 20161209
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20161209141209
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000920522-16-000142
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20161208
FILED AS OF DATE:		20161209
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20161209

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000920522
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				770369576
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1100 PARK PLACE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			SAN MATEO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94403
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6506557800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1100 PARK PLACE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			SAN MATEO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94403

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EUDY JOHN D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001198214

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13106
		FILM NUMBER:		162043665

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST
		STREET 2:		1100 PARK PLACE, SUITE 200
		CITY:			SAN MATEO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94403
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>wf-form4_148131071651914.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-12-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000920522</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ESS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001198214</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EUDY JOHN D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1100 PARK PLACE, SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN MATEO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94403</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-12-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1662</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8430</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Purchase)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>219.22</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-12-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20710</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2017-12-08</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2026-12-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20710.0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20710</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents restricted stock units that are fully vested as of the grant date and are subject to restrictions on transfer for the three-year period following the date of grant. In accordance with applicable Form 4 reporting requirements, the foregoing excludes 1,662 restricted stock units also granted on December 8, 2016, that may be earned subject to achievement of certain performance criteria based on the Issuer's relative total return to shareholders measured against an industry-specific index through December 8, 2019.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">33% of these options vest on each anniversary starting on December 8, 2017 and ending on December 8, 2019. Stock options are subject to a $100 cap upon exercise.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ John Farias, Attorney in Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-12-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
