<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000920522-18-000066.txt : 20181207
<SEC-HEADER>0000920522-18-000066.hdr.sgml : 20181207
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20181207151955
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000920522-18-000066
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20181205
FILED AS OF DATE:		20181207
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20181207

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Kleiman Angela L.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001654413

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13106
		FILM NUMBER:		181223309

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

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	Kleiman Angela Lachie
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20150930

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>wf-form4_154421397868340.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-12-05</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001654413</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Kleiman Angela L.</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 &amp; CFO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-12-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>684</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9083</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents restricted stock units earned on December 5, 2018 that vest 100% on December 31, 2018 and are subject to restrictions on transfer for the three-year period following the grant date of December 7, 2017. In accordance with applicable Form 4 reporting requirements, the foregoing excludes 1,595 eligible restricted stock units also granted on December 7, 2017, 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 7, 2020.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ John Farias, Attorney in Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-12-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
