<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001200997-03-000001
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030701
<FILING-DATE>20030702
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CODEY LAWRENCE R
<CIK>0001200997
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-08359
<FILM-NUMBER>03769324
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O SEALED AIR CORP
<STREET2>PARK 80 EAST
<CITY>SADDLE BROOK
<STATE>NJ
<ZIP>07663
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORP
<CIK>0000356309
<ASSIGNED-SIC>4924
<IRS-NUMBER>222376465
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>NJ
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0930
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1415 WYCKOFF RD
<STREET2>PO BOX 1468
<CITY>WALL
<STATE>NJ
<ZIP>07719
<PHONE>9089381494
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1350 CAMPUS PKWY
<STREET2>P O BOX 1468
<CITY>WALL
<STATE>NJ
<ZIP>07719
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-07-01</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000356309</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NJR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001200997</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CODEY LAWRENCE R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Phantom Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>0</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-07-01</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>56.338</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>35.5</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>56.338</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>745.5966</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">1-for-1</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The phantom stock units were accrued under the New Jersey Resources Corporation (NJR) Directors Deferred Compenstion Plan and are to be settled in NJR common stock upon the reporting person's retirement.  Total includes accural for reinvested dividends.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Oleta J. Harden - Attorney-In-Fact (POA on file)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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