Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
ZIMMERMAN CRAIG K
   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST INC [ESS] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Executive Vice President
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
C/O ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, 925 E MEADOW DR		 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
12/06/2011
(Street)

PALO ALTO, CA 94303		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Series Z-1 Incentive Units (1) 12/06/2011   J(1)   2,000     (1)   (1) Series Z-1 Incentive Units 2,000 $ 1 (2) 2,000 D  
Stock Option (Right to purchase) $ 132.03 12/06/2011   A   12,500     (3) 12/06/2021 Common Stock 12,500 $ 0 12,500 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
ZIMMERMAN CRAIG K
C/O ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST
925 E MEADOW DR
PALO ALTO, CA 94303		       Executive Vice President  

Signatures

 /s/ Craig K. Zimmerman   12/15/2011
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Represents the grant of Series Z-1 Incentive Units in Essex Portfolio, L.P. ("EPLP") in December 2011. On January 1, 2012, there will be a 10% conversion ratchet percentage for such units if the FFO target for Essex Property Trust, Inc. is achieved. Thereafter, the conversion ratchet percentage will be increased each year if certain defined criteria are met. These Z-1 Units generally will be convertible into operating partnership units in EPLP at the earliest of a change in control or after the entire 2011 grant reaches a 100% conversion ratchet percentage.
(2) A capital contribution of $1.00 per Series Z-1 Incentive Unit.
(3) 10% of these options vested on December 6, 2011, the date of grant, and thereafter 1/60 of the options vest each month.

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