Abstract: A new method for establishing and updating urban building database is proposed in the paper. First, basic information of residential building is directly extracted and effectively compromised with map from internet, and combined street view map and remote sensing photographs with expert experiences. Second, basic information of public and institution buildings were distinguished for those which could not be obtained from internet directly. Third, the data was supplemented and verified by on-site investigation, then a database would be established. Lastly, downloading maps of investigation area in different periods, and superimposing and comparing these maps, then the significant changes area is located where some supplementary investigations would do, a primary urban buildings database would be updated regularly. According to the case study of building database establishment in Heping district in Tianjin, we found that the method is convenient and very effective and can be updated periodically. It is a good reference for establishment of basic information database of other cities. It is very important to note that due to limitation of the integrity, reliability and details of data for internet, the accuracy of database is largely affected.