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

    <schemaVersion>X0508</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2023-07-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000727273</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CADIZ INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CDZI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001519037</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Slater Scott S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>550 SOUTH HOPE STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 2850</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOS ANGELES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90071</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <aff10b5One>0</aff10b5One>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2023-07-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>14000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>123881</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>85000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>85000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Previously reported.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Each Restricted Stock Unit (&quot;RSU&quot;) represents a contingent right to receive one share of Cadiz Inc. common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">These RSUs will vest upon the Company's entering into final binding water supply arrangement for delivery of at least 9,500 acre-feet per year, subject to the Reporting Person's continuing employment as of such vesting event.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities until such time, and to the extent, that ownership of these securities has vested</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Scott S. Slater</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2023-07-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
[{"type": "4", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "description": "PRIMARY DOCUMENT", "secsgml_size_bytes": 5072}]
X0508
4
2023-07-13
0
0000727273
CADIZ INC
CDZI
0001519037
Slater Scott S
550 SOUTH HOPE STREET
SUITE 2850
LOS ANGELES
CA
90071
1
1
0
0
Chief Executive Officer
0
Common Stock
2023-07-13
4
P
0
14000
3.5
A
123881
D
Restricted Stock Units
Common Stock
85000
85000
D
Previously reported.
Each Restricted Stock Unit ("RSU") represents a contingent right to receive one share of Cadiz Inc. common stock.
These RSUs will vest upon the Company's entering into final binding water supply arrangement for delivery of at least 9,500 acre-feet per year, subject to the Reporting Person's continuing employment as of such vesting event.
The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities until such time, and to the extent, that ownership of these securities has vested
Scott S. Slater
2023-07-17