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)
12/28/2005
(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

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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 Unit (1) (2) (3) 12/28/2005   J(1)   8,366   12/28/2020 12/28/2020 Series Z-1 Incentive Unit 8,366 $ 1 (4) 8,366 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

 For: Craig K. Zimmerman, By: Michael J. Schall (Attorney in Fact)   12/28/2005
**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) 1. Represents the grand of Series Z-1 Incentive Units pursuant to the Essex Portfolio, L.P. Long Term Incentive Plan. Subject to the conversion Ratchet Percentage described below, the Series Z-1 Incentive Units are convertible or redeemable, as the case may be, upon the occurrence of certain events, into either (i) Operating Partnership units in Essex Portfolio, L.P. ("OPUs"), and such OPUs are convertible into shares of Common Stock. The Conversion Ratchet Percentage, initially set at 20% will increase by up to 10% on January 1 of each year for each holder of Series Z-1 Incentive Units who remains employed by Essex Property Trust, Inc. if Essex Property Trust, Inc. has met a specified "funds from operations" per share target, or such other criteria established by the Compensation Committee, for the prior year, up to a maximum Conversion Ratchet Percentage of 100%.
(2) 2. The Series Z-1 Incentive Units will automatically convert into OPUs (1) if the Conversion Ratchet Percentage reaches the maximum level of 100%, (2) if none of the participating executives remain employed by Essex Property Trust, Inc., (3) if Essex Property Trust, Inc. dissolves or is liquidated or, (4) at the latest, June 2019. In certain change of control situations, the participating executives will also be given the option to convert their units at the then-effective Conversion Ratchet Percentage. In addition, Essex Portfolio, L.P. has the option to redeem Series Z-1 Incentive Units held by any executive whose employment has been terminated for any reason and the obligation to redeem any such units following the death of the holder. In such event, Essex Portfolio, L.P. will redeem the units for, at its option, either OPUs or shares of Common Stock based on the then-effective Conversion Ratchet Percentage.
(3) 3. The Series Z-1 Incentive Units are convertible into the number of OPUs calculated by dividing (1) the remainder resulting from (a) the portion of the adjusted capital account balance properly allocable to such Series Z-1 Incentive Units minus (b) the product of (i) such adjusted capital account balance allocable to such Series Z-1 Incentive Unit multiplied by (ii) (x) 100% less (y) the Conversion Ratchet Percentage applicable to such Series Z-1 Incentive Unit, minus (c) any unpaid capital commitment (2) the average adjusted capital account balance properly allocable to one OPU determined immediately prior to such conversion.
(4) 4. A capital contribution of $1.00 per Series Z-1 Incentive Unit.

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