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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-12-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001350939</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LOGAN JOEL STEPHEN II</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>205 CARRIAGE ST.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GUIN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>35563</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>WARRANTS</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>312141</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>312141</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">(1) On December 29, 2010, for an aggregate redemption price of $811.57, the Reporting Person sold the following derivative securities to Deer Valley Corp.: (a) 200,000 common shares issuable upon exercise of the Company's Series A Common Stock Purchase Warrants, (b) 12,141 common shares issuable upon exercise of another of the Company's Series A Common Stock Purchase Warrants, and (c) 100,000 common shares issuable upon exercise of the Company's Series B Common Stock Purchase Warrants.  Each Warrant redeemed was currently exercisable.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ JOEL STEPHEN LOGAN II</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-03-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2010-12-29
0
0000095047
DEER VALLEY CORP
DVLY
0001350939
LOGAN JOEL STEPHEN II
205 CARRIAGE ST.
GUIN
AL
35563
1
0
0
0
WARRANTS
2010-12-29
4
D
0
312141
D
COMMON STOCK
312141
0
D
(1) On December 29, 2010, for an aggregate redemption price of $811.57, the Reporting Person sold the following derivative securities to Deer Valley Corp.: (a) 200,000 common shares issuable upon exercise of the Company's Series A Common Stock Purchase Warrants, (b) 12,141 common shares issuable upon exercise of another of the Company's Series A Common Stock Purchase Warrants, and (c) 100,000 common shares issuable upon exercise of the Company's Series B Common Stock Purchase Warrants.  Each Warrant redeemed was currently exercisable.
/s/ JOEL STEPHEN LOGAN II
2011-03-22