<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001242468-03-000003
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030731
<FILING-DATE>20030731
<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>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>WOLF GARY W
<CIK>0001242468
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-08359
<FILM-NUMBER>03814970
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>NEW JERSEY RESOURCES
<STREET2>1415 WYCKOFF ROAD
<CITY>WALL
<STATE>NJ
<ZIP>07719
<PHONE>7329381480
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-07-31</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001242468</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WOLF GARY W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>36.1</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-07-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>36.1</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-07-13</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-07-13</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>



    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Oleta J. Harden - Attorney-In-Fact (POA on file)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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