<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-16-089715.txt : 20161214
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-16-089715.hdr.sgml : 20161214
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20161214200338
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-16-089715
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20161212
FILED AS OF DATE:		20161214
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20161214

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SANGAMO BIOSCIENCES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001001233
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS (NO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES) [2836]
		IRS NUMBER:				680359556
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		501 CANAL BLVD
		STREET 2:		POINT RICHMOND TECH CNTR.
		CITY:			RICHMOND
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94804
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5109706000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		501 CANAL BLVD
		STREET 2:		POINT RICHMOND TECH CNTR.
		CITY:			RICHMOND
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94804

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Wolff Henry Ward
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001302390

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-30171
		FILM NUMBER:		162052159

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6701 KAISER DRIVE
		CITY:			FREMONT
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94555
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-12-12</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001001233</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SANGAMO BIOSCIENCES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SGMO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001302390</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Wolff Henry Ward</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O SANGAMO BIOSCIENCES INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>POINT RICHMOND TECH CNTR, 501 CANAL BLVD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RICHMOND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94804</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Exec VP &amp; CFO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-12-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>13778</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.05</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>206829</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares withheld to satisfy the Reporting Person's tax withholding obligation upon the vesting and issuance of RSUs.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 12,500 and 25,000 shares subject to RSUs granted on December 11, 2014 and December 8, 2015 respectively, which will be issued as such units vest in accordance with their terms.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes an aggregate of 4,904 shares acquired by the Reporting Person under the Issuer's Employee Stock Purchase Plan on October 31, 2015, April 30, 2016 and October 31, 2016.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Florence Tam, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-12-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
