<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-02-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000095047</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DEER VALLEY CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DVLY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001350777</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PHILLIPS DALE EDWARD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3111 W. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>#100</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TAMPA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33607</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-01-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>37500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>37500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>see footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>STOCK OPTION</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-02-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>44188</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>WARRANT</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.5</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-01-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>22094</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-04-17</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-04-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>22094</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>144188</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>see footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>WARRANT</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-01-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>22094</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-04-17</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-04-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>22094</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>122094</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>see footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Upon acquisition of an interest in Apogee Financial Investments, Inc., the Reporting Person acquired an indirect pecuniary interest in common stock of the Issuer already owned by Apogee Financial Investments, Inc.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Issuer redeemed from the Reporting Person (a) options exercisable for 50,000 shares of common stock and an exercise price of $1.14, and (b) options exercisable for 50,000 shares of common stock and an exercise price of $1.11.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Upon acquisition of an interest in Apogee Financial Investments, Inc., the Reporting Person acquired an indirect pecuniary interest in derivative securities of the Issuer already owned by Apogee Financial Investments, Inc.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ DALE E. PHILLPS</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-03-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2010-02-26
0
0000095047
DEER VALLEY CORP
DVLY
0001350777
PHILLIPS DALE EDWARD
3111 W. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING BLVD.
#100
TAMPA
FL
33607
1
0
0
0
COMMON STOCK
2008-01-30
4
J
0
37500
A
37500
I
see footnote
STOCK OPTION
2010-02-26
4
D
0
100000
D
COMMON STOCK
100000
44188
D
WARRANT
1.5
2008-01-30
4
J
0
22094
A
2006-04-17
2011-04-17
COMMON STOCK
22094
144188
I
see footnote
WARRANT
3
2008-01-30
4
J
0
22094
A
2006-04-17
2011-04-17
COMMON STOCK
22094
122094
I
see footnote
Upon acquisition of an interest in Apogee Financial Investments, Inc., the Reporting Person acquired an indirect pecuniary interest in common stock of the Issuer already owned by Apogee Financial Investments, Inc.
The Issuer redeemed from the Reporting Person (a) options exercisable for 50,000 shares of common stock and an exercise price of $1.14, and (b) options exercisable for 50,000 shares of common stock and an exercise price of $1.11.
Upon acquisition of an interest in Apogee Financial Investments, Inc., the Reporting Person acquired an indirect pecuniary interest in derivative securities of the Issuer already owned by Apogee Financial Investments, Inc.
/s/ DALE E. PHILLPS
2010-03-31