Subject to Division II of this article, this subtitle applies statewide.

Subject to § 4–803 of this subtitle, a license expires when the license holder dies.

On application to the local licensing board and payment of a fee of $1 by the personal representative or special administrator of the estate of a deceased license holder to the local collecting agent, the local licensing board may grant a certificate of permission for the continuation of the business in the name of the personal representative or special administrator for the benefit of the estate of the deceased license holder. The certificate of permission may be granted for a period not exceeding 18 months after the date of the granted permission unless the license expires earlier. If the license expires earlier than 18 months after the date of the granted permission, the local licensing board may issue a renewal license on application by the personal representative or special administrator for a period not exceeding 18 months after the death of the license holder.

The personal representative or special administrator to whom a certificate of permission has been granted may apply to the local licensing board for the transfer of the license for the benefit of the estate of the license holder. On approval of the application for transfer of the license and payment of the balance of any license fee due until the expiration of the license year, the license is reinstated.

On payment of a pro rata license fee for the period of continuation, a certificate of permission and a renewal license are subject to the right of protest, revocation, suspension, and restriction. During the period of continuation, the renewal license and the personal representative or special administrator of the estate of the deceased license holder are subject to this article and the provisions of the Tax – General Article that relate to the alcoholic beverage tax.

The personal representative or special administrator of the deceased license holder may apply for and obtain any refund to which the deceased license holder would have been entitled if the license had been surrendered for cancellation on the date of the license holder’s death if: the business of a license holder is not continued under § 4–803 of this subtitle; and the license is not transferred under § 4–804 of this subtitle.