Subject to §§ 3–405 and 3–406 of this subtitle, a holder of an expiring license is entitled to an annual license renewal: on the approval of the license renewal application by the Executive Director; on payment of the annual license fee; and without filing or providing more information unless specifically requested by the Executive Director. Except as provided in §§ 3–406(a) and 3–407(c) of this subtitle, the Executive Director shall consider an application for license renewal in the same manner as for an original application. In addition to any license fee otherwise required under this article, an applicant for renewal 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 renewal fee of $30. The renewal 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.

To renew a license, the license holder annually shall file a written application, under oath, with the Executive Director.

An application to renew a license shall be filed between March 2 and April 1, inclusive.

To be approved, a license renewal application shall: state whether the facts in the original application have changed and, if so, the manner in which the facts have changed; and be accompanied by a statement signed by the owner of the licensed premises consenting to: renewal of the license; and search and seizure in the same manner as for an original application. The Executive Director may not require the consent statement under subsection (a)(2) of this section for a retail dealer applying for renewal if: the owner signed a comparable consent statement in connection with an original or previous license renewal application; the consent statement under item (1) of this subsection is in effect for the term of the owner’s lease with the applicant; and the lease does not expire during the term of the license renewal.

A protest against a license renewal may be made by at least 10 signatories who are: residents, commercial tenants who are not holders of or applicants for a license, or real estate owners; and located in the immediate vicinity of the licensed premises. If a protest against renewing a license is filed at least 30 days before the license expires, the Executive Director may not approve the renewal without holding a hearing. The Executive Director shall hear and determine the protest in the same manner as the Executive Director hears and determines an original application.

The Executive Director: may not renew a license if the Executive Director determines that the license holder is not qualified to obtain a license renewal; but shall issue to the license holder by way of renewal the class or type of license for which the Executive Director determines the license holder is qualified. Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Executive Director shall deny a license renewal application if during the license year the license holder was convicted of a State or federal offense that, in the judgment of the Executive Director, renders the license holder unfit or unqualified to obtain a renewed license. The Executive Director: shall hold a public hearing before renewing a license under the circumstances described in paragraph (1) of this subsection; and may inquire into all relevant facts and circumstances concerning the offense at the hearing.

The Executive Director may issue renewed licenses for the following license year between April 15 and May 1, inclusive. All renewed licenses shall be dated May 1. If an expiring license is subject to an order of restriction or suspension, the Executive Director shall issue the corresponding license renewal subject to the same order.