<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001279724-04-000003
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20041202
<FILING-DATE>20041206
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20041206
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CADIZ INC
<CIK>0000727273
<ASSIGNED-SIC>0700
<IRS-NUMBER>770313235
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>777 SOUTH FIGUEROA STREET
<STREET2>SUITE 4250
<CITY>LOS ANGELES
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>90017
<PHONE>213-271-1600
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>777 SOUTH FIGUEROA STREET
<STREET2>SUITE 4250
<CITY>LOS ANGELES
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>90017
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>CADIZ LAND CO INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19920703
</FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>PACIFIC AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19920602
</FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>ARIDTECH INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19880523
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ARENS GEOFFREY W
<CIK>0001279724
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-12114
<FILM-NUMBER>041187151
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1325 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
<CITY>NEW YORK
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>10019
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000727273</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CADIZ INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CDZI.OTCBB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001279724</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ARENS GEOFFREY 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>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>No securities owned.</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>(2)</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares of common stock beneficially owned by ING Groep N.V. and ING Capital LLC.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">ING Groep N.V. and ING Capital LLC have filed a separate Form 4 in connection with their change in beneficial ownership of Cadiz Inc. common stock.  ING Groep N.V. and ING Capital LLC have also filed a Schedule 13D, and will be filing an amendment thereto, in connection with their change in beneficial ownership of Cadiz Inc. common stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Holders of a majority-in-interest of Cadiz Inc.'s Series F Preferred Stock (the &quot;Series F Majority Holders&quot;) have the right to nominate and have seated two directors (the &quot;Series F Directors&quot;) to the Board of Directors of Cadiz Inc. (the &quot;Cadiz Board&quot;) and to nominate and have seated any successor to the Cadiz Board upon the resignation of any Series F Director.  Pursuant to this right, the Series F Majority Holders caused Geoffrey W. Arens to be appointed to the Cadiz Board on January 30, 2004.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Geoffrey W. Arens</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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