The registers generally record the license numbers, names, residences, and amounts due for each license. Occasional remarks, often referring to the transfer of licenses from one party to another, are also included. Some of the volumes may also include records for licenses other than those indicated in their "titles," and others may include records for geographic areas other than those specified.

The receipts from applications are license stubs from which the licenses themselves (or license certificates) were removed and presented to the licensee. There are receipts for hotels & private boarding houses, oyster stands, peddlers, and professions. In general these receipts give license numbers, names of licensees, residences, amounts paid, and dates of payment. In some cases voided licenses or certificates are attached to the receipts, and unused, blank certificates remain in all volumes.