(1) The Department mails a renewal application for a term of five years to the Permittee at the Permittee's last address on the Department's record at least 30 days before the expiration date.

(2) The Permittee returns the completed Form ODA-0013(A), Application For Outdoor Advertising Permit Renewal 1999-2003 (Rev. 09/99) which is incorporated by reference, and fee to the Department postmarked on or before December 31 of the year in which the permit expires to avoid a penalty. The Permittee would be scheduled to pay as follows:

(3) A permit is expired and is subject to a mandatory penalty of $100.00 if the renewal application and fee are received by the Department postmarked after December 31 of the year in which the permit expires or the pro rata payment is due.

(4) The Department shall issue the permit after receiving the completed renewal application, permit fee or pro-rata fee, and after determining the Display is not in violation of any provision of the Act or these regulations and an unexpired building permit has been issued, if the display has not been constructed. Permits issued prior to December 31, 2002, for Displays that have not been constructed or have not obtained an unexpired building permit, will not be revoked until June 30, 2005, if the applicable city or county confirms that a building permit is being actively considered for the Display. The Department will also review its records to determine there is no active violation notice on record for the Display as of December 31 of the year in which the permit expires. The permit entitles the permittee to place the permitted display for the term of the permit, provided all pro rata fees are timely received.

(5) If the Department fails to issue a permit according to this Chapter and the Act within one year after receiving a complete and valid renewal application and required fees, the permit is considered renewed for the year of the renewal application. An applicant shall provide a certified mail receipt or signed acknowledgment of receipt by a Department representative to invoke this provision. This section does not apply to a permit under review pursuant to Chapter 3.6 commencing with section 2424(C) in Title 4 of the California Code of Regulations or a legal action.

(6) The following occurs when a permit is not renewed in accordance with (a)(1) to (a)(4) of this section:

(7) A permit must be renewed by the end of the first year after expiration or lose eligibility for renewal.

(8) The renewal application for a valid, unrevoked, and unexpired permit shall be mailed when issuance of the permit is pending resolution of a violation notice or a legal action. The Permittee shall continue to comply with the renewal requirements. The permit is issued only when a final decision is made by the Director or by a court of law that does not uphold the violation. Fees will be deposited into the State Highway Account and when appropriate, refunded upon the final decision.