<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001193700-08-000003
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20081119
<FILING-DATE>20081119
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20081119
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>COVIELLO PHILIP E JR
<CIK>0001193700
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-10899
<FILM-NUMBER>081201033
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>GETTY REALTY CORP
<STREET2>125 JERICHO TURNPIKE
<CITY>JERICHO
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>11753
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>KIMCO REALTY CORP
<CIK>0000879101
<ASSIGNED-SIC>6798
<IRS-NUMBER>132744380
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>MD
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>3333 NEW HYDE PARK RD
<STREET2>PO BOX 5020
<CITY>NEW HYDE PARK
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>11042
<PHONE>5168699000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>3333 NEW HYDE PARK ROAD
<STREET2>PO BOX 5020
<CITY>NEW HYDE PARKQ
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>11042
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-11-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000879101</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KIMCO REALTY CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>KIM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001193700</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>COVIELLO PHILIP E JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O KIMCO REALTY CORP.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3333 NEW HYDE PARK ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW HYDE PARK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11042</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Kimco Realty Corp. Common Stock par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-11-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.1894</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Note 1</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Kimco Realty Corp. Common Stock par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-11-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.227</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Spouse (Note 2)</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <remarks>Note 1 - These shares were purchased by and held in a Testamentary Trust in which Mr. Coviello is the trustee and beneficiary.  Mr. Coviello holds voiting and dispostive power over these shares. This does not include the 27,201 shares owned directly by Mr. Coviello.

Note 2 - These shares are owned by Carole R. Coviello to which shares Mr.Coviello disclaims all beneficial ownership.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Philip E. Coviello</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-11-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
