<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001181431-05-005666
<TYPE>5
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20041231
<FILING-DATE>20050131
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20050131
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>SCHNEIDER SCOTT V
<CIK>0001228478
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>5
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-12254
<FILM-NUMBER>05561152
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>SAUL CENTERS INC
<STREET2>7501 WISCONSIN AVE.
<CITY>BETHESDA
<STATE>MD
<ZIP>20814
</BUSINESS-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>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd65767.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 5
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001228478</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHNEIDER SCOTT V</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7501 WISCONSIN AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>15TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BETHESDA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20814</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. Vice President-CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionCoding>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>334.500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Child-Eric</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionCoding>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2683.256</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionCoding>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>334.500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Child-Carson</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionCoding>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>357.148</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Child-Clara</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionCoding>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>348.798</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Child-Lindsey</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>24.91</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionCoding></transactionCoding>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-05-23</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-05-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>25.78</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionCoding></transactionCoding>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-04-26</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-04-26</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option will vest 25% per year over four years from the date of grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Balance increased by January 30, 2004, April 30, 2004, July 30,  2004, and October 29, 2004 Dividend Reinvestment Plan awards of

4.621 shares, 5.161 shares, 4.370 shares, and 4.088 shares, respectively.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Balance increased by January 30, 2004, April 30, 2004, July 30, 2004, and October 29, 2004 Dividend Reinvestment Plan awards of 37.064 shares, 41.397 shares, 35.052 shares, and 32.789 shares, respectively.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Balance increased by January 30, 2004, April 30, 2004, July 30, 2004, and October 29, 2004 Dividend Reinvestment Plan awards of 4.933 shares, 5.510 shares, 4.666 shares, and 4.364 shares, respectively.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Balance increased by January 30, 2004, April 30, 2004, July 30, 2004, and October 29, 2004 Dividend Reinvestment Plan awards of 4.818 shares, 5.381 shares, 4.556 shares, and 4.262 shares, respectively.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Scott V. Schneider</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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