<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001019553-09-000007
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20090806
<FILING-DATE>20090807
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20090807
<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>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>DOOLEY RICHARD G
<CIK>0001019553
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-10899
<FILM-NUMBER>09995029
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O JEFFERIES & COMPANY, INC.
<STREET2>520 MADISON AVE., 12TH FLOOR
<CITY>NEW YORK
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>10022
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<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>2009-08-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001019553</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DOOLEY RICHARD G</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 - Restricted Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-08-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.54</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>157274.289</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option to purchase common stock par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>11.54</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-08-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.54</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-08-06</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-08-06</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Kimco Realty Corp. Common Stock par value $0.01 per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>220500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">shres issued are Restricted Stock.  The shares become unrestricted 25% each year as follows - 8/6/10 1,375 shares; 8/6/11 1,375 shares; 8/6/12 1,375 shares and 8/6/13 1,375 shares.  Mr. Dooley is entitled to vote the shares and receive dividends, if any.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Richard G. Dooley</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-08-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
