Ownership Submission
FORM 3
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF 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 *
  Wetzel Mark L
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
03/17/2005
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
EQUITY RESIDENTIAL [EQR]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
TWO NORTH RIVERSIDE PLAZA, SUITE 400
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Chief Accounting Officer
5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

CHICAGO, IL 60606
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 Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)
3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Shares of Beneficial Interest 6,330 (1)
D
 
Common Shares of Beneficial Interest 14,304 (2)
I
SERP Account
Common Shares of Beneficial Interest 2,000 (3)
I
Daughter

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) 02/07/2005(4) 02/07/2013 Common Shares of Beneficial Interest 4,613 $ 23.55 D  
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) 01/16/2003(5) 01/16/2012 Common Shares of Beneficial Interest 6,896 $ 27.2 D  
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) 01/27/2005(6) 01/27/2014 Common Shares of Beneficial Interest 8,297 $ 29.25 D  
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) 02/03/2006(7) 02/03/2008 Common Shares of Beneficial Interest 7,082 $ 31.76 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Wetzel Mark L
TWO NORTH RIVERSIDE PLAZA, SUITE 400
CHICAGO, IL 60606
      Chief Accounting Officer  

Signatures

Mark L. Wetzel 03/17/2005
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(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) Shares reported on this line are owned directly and some are subject to vesting.
(2) Shares reported herein are owned by the Security Trust Company, as Trustee of the Equity Residential Supplemental Retirement Plan for the benefit of the reporting person and were acquired through Equity Residential's Employee Share Purchase Plan.
(3) Shares reported on this line are beneficially owned by Mr. Wetzel as custodian for his minor daughter. Mr. Wetzel disclaims beneficial ownership of said shares.
(4) 2,306 of the share options reported on this line are currently exercisable; the remaining share options become exercisable on 2/7/2006.
(5) Share options reported on this line are fully exercisable.
(6) 2,765 of the share options are currently exercisable; the remaining share options become exercisable in two equal installments on 1/27/2006 and 1/27/2007.
(7) The share options become exercisable in three equal installments on 2/3/2006; 2/3/2007 and 2/3/2008.

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