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 * Morris James Richard   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol AVALONBAY COMMUNITIES INC [AVB] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Senior Vice President (Last) (First) (Middle) C/O AVALONBAY COMMUNITIES, INC., BALLSTON TOWER, 671 N. GLEBE ROAD 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 02/16/2012 (Street) ARLINGTON, VA 22203 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 Common Stock, par value $.01 per share 02/16/2012   A   1,197 A $ 0 (1) 36,639.9822 (2) D

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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

Employee Stock Options (Right to Buy)

$ 132.95

02/16/2012

A

2,758

02/16/2013(3)

02/16/2022

Common Stock

2,758

$ 0 (4)

2,758 (5)

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Morris James Richard C/O AVALONBAY COMMUNITIES, INC. BALLSTON TOWER, 671 N. GLEBE ROAD ARLINGTON, VA 22203			Senior Vice President

Signatures

Catherine T. White, as attorney-in-fact under Power of Attorney dated January 26, 2009		02/21/2012
**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)	Reflects grant of shares of restricted stock under the Company's Stock Option and Incentive Plan, which shares are subject to vesting requirements.
(2)	The amount of securities owned following the reported transaction reflects direct ownership of all shares of common stock, including restricted shares.
(3)	These options vest in three annual installments, with the first installment vesting on 2/16/2013.
(4)	Reflects grant of options under the Company's Stock Option and Incentive Plan.
(5)	Following the reported transaction, the reporting person holds a total of 21,372 options to purchase the issuer's common stock granted on various dates and with varying exercise prices and vesting dates.

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