<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001181431-04-024660
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20031204
<FILING-DATE>20040506
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>Shoop Kenneth Donald
<CIK>0001289314
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-12254
<FILM-NUMBER>04786188
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<PHONE>301-986-6341
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>7501 WISCONSIN AVE
<STREET2>SUITE 1500
<CITY>BETHESDA
<STATE>MD
<ZIP>20814
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>SAUL CENTERS INC
<CIK>0000907254
<ASSIGNED-SIC>6798
<IRS-NUMBER>521833074
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>MD
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>8401 CONNECTICUT AVE
<CITY>CHEVY CHASE
<STATE>MD
<ZIP>20815
<PHONE>3019866207
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>8401 CONNECTICUT AVE
<CITY>CHEVY CHASE
<STATE>MD
<ZIP>20815
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd41817.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-04</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000907254</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SAUL CENTERS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BFS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001289314</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Shoop Kenneth Donald</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7501 WISCONSIN AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>15TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BETHESDA, MD  20814</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20814</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President-CAO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kenneth D. Shoop</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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