Form: 4

Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities

February 20, 2004

SEC Form 4
FORM 4 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP


Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
MEYER GILBERT M
(Last) (First) (Middle)
C/O AVALONBAY COMMUNITIES, INC.
2900 EISENHOWER AVE., SUITE 300
(Street)
ALEXANDRIA VA 22314
(City) (State) (Zip)
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
AVALONBAY COMMUNITIES INC [ AVB ] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
X Director 10% Owner
Officer (give title below) Other (specify below)
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/19/2004
4. If Amendment, Date of 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
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
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share 02/19/2004 M 40,000 A $23.375 1,096,565(1) D
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share 02/19/2004 S 40,000 D $50.7534 1,056,565(1) D
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 Securities Underlying Derivative Security (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: 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
Stock Options (Right to Buy) $23.375 02/19/2004 M 40,000 01/26/1997(2) 01/26/2006 Common Stock 40,000 (3) 342,400(4) D
Explanation of Responses:
1. The amount of securities owned following the reported transaction reflects direct ownership of all shares of common stock, including restricted shares.
2. The options exercised were included in options granted on January 26, 1996 which became exercisable in four equal annual installments beginning on January 26, 1997.
3. The options exercised were granted to the reporting person on January 1, 1996 under the Company's Stock Incentive Plan.
4. The amount of securities owned following the reported transaction includes options granted on various dates with varying exercise prices and vesting dates. After the exercise described above, the reporting person has no remaining options that expire on January 26, 2006 with an exercise price of $23.375.
Remarks:
By Edward M. Schulman, as attorney in fact under Power of Attorney dated January 1, 2000 02/20/2004
** Signature of Reporting Person Date

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* 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).

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.