The Executive Director shall issue each license that applies statewide. A license may not be issued to a partnership, corporation, or limited liability company but only to an individual authorized to act for a partnership, corporation, or limited liability company. A license holder shall assume all responsibilities as an individual and be subject to all penalties, conditions, and restrictions imposed on license holders under this article and the provisions of the Tax – General Article that relate to the alcoholic beverage tax.

On receipt of an application, the Executive Director shall order an investigation of: the applicant; the business to be operated; and the statements presented in the license application. On completion of the investigation, the Executive Director shall deny the license application: if the Executive Director determines that the applicant: is not a fit person to receive the license; made a material false statement in the application; or acted fraudulently in connection with the application; or for other reasons that the Executive Director considers sufficient. If the Executive Director does not find cause to deny the license, the Executive Director shall approve the application and issue the license. In addition to any license fee otherwise required under this article, an applicant for the initial issuance of a manufacturer’s or wholesaler’s license under Title 2, Subtitle 2 or 3 of this article shall pay to the Executive Director a nonrefundable application fee of $200. The application fee under this subsection does not apply to a license for which payment of an annual license fee is not otherwise required under this article.

A statewide license shall be on the form that the Executive Director provides. The Executive Director shall number each statewide license.

Except as otherwise provided in this article, a license issued by the Executive Director shall be dated as of the date of issuance and shall expire on the next April 30 after its issuance.

A license issued by the Executive Director: is not property and does not confer property rights; and is subject to: suspension, revocation, and restrictions authorized by law; and regulations authorized under this article.

The Executive Director may issue a replacement license to a license holder whose license is lost or destroyed on receiving: an application under oath; and payment of a $1 fee. On the replacement license, the word “replacement” shall appear with all of the information that appeared on the original license.

Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section: if a license is denied, another license application may not be considered from the same applicant or for the same location for 6 months after the denial; and if a subsequent application by the same applicant or for the same location is denied within a 2–year period immediately after the first denial, another application may not be considered from that applicant or for that location until the 2–year period expires. This section does not apply to: an applicant, if the license was denied because it was not necessary to accommodate the public or the location was not suitable for the sale of alcoholic beverages; or the location, if the license was denied because the Executive Director determined that the applicant was not a proper person to be issued the license.