-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 IuSeyW/QrDd0l5hA5fcP8o2+7MYpGoqJFzEsEJt0IT9cBOhmUanzAKOzOhxniTA/
 1gTlajinJKjrNsMrif8+HA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001290762-04-000021.txt : 20041220
<SEC-HEADER>0001290762-04-000021.hdr.sgml : 20041220
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041220154920
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001290762-04-000021
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041216
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041220
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041220

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BELL THOMAS D JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001250947

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11312
		FILM NUMBER:		041214134

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2500 WINDY RIDGE PARKWAY STE 1600
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30339
		BUSINESS PHONE:		770-955-2200

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COUSINS PROPERTIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000025232
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				580869052
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			GA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2500 WINDY RIDGE PKWY STE 1600
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30339-5683
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7709552200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2500 WINDY RIDGE PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1600
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30339-5683
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001250947d20041220f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000025232</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COUSINS PROPERTIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CUZ</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001250947</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BELL THOMAS D JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2500 WINDY RIDGE PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ATLANTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30339</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1947</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>31.23</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>93863</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>643</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote 3</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares withheld from the vesting of restricted stock to pay the reporting person's tax liabilty as provided under the Cousins Properties Incorporated 1999 Incentive Stock Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 50,500 shares of restricted stock awarded under the Cousins Properties Incorporated (CPI) 1999 Incentive Stock Plan.  These shares will vest 25% per year on each anniversary date of the grant, and CPI will hold these shares until such shares become vested.  While the shares are being held prior to vesting, the reporting person will have the right to receive all cash dividends and to vote the restricted shares.  All unvested shares will forfeit upon termination of employment.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Shares held by the reporting person as beneficiary in the Company's Profit Sharing Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Thomas D. Bell, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
