(1) A permit fee is payable annually in advance, to be credited to the state trunk line fund. For a digital billboard permit, the fee is $200.00 for the first year. For an annual permit for a billboard that does not require a digital billboard permit, the fee is $100.00 for the first year except that signs in existence prior to a highway's change in designation or jurisdiction that requires signs to be permitted shall only be required to pay the permit renewal amount under subsection (2). The department shall establish an annual expiration date for each permit and may change the expiration date of existing permits to spread the permit renewal activity over the year. Permit fees may be prorated the first year. An application for the renewal of a permit shall be filed with the department no later than the permit's expiration date.

    (2) For signs up to and including 300 square feet, the annual permit renewal fee is $50.00. For signs greater than 300 square feet, the annual permit renewal fee is $80.00. The annual permit renewal fee for an interim permit is $80.00. The annual permit renewal fee for a digital billboard permit is $200.00. Signs of the service club and religious category are not subject to an annual renewal fee.

    (3) If the annual renewal fee is not paid by the expiration date of the permit as required under this section, the annual renewal fee shall increase by an additional $50.00. The department shall send notice of nonpayment by certified mail to the permit holder's address on file within 30 days after the expiration date and shall inform the permit holder that if the annual renewal fee as increased under this subsection is not paid within 60 days after the permit expiration date, the department may cancel the permit without taking further administrative action unless an administrative hearing is requested by the permit holder within 60 days after the permit expiration date.

    (4) The department shall send notice of a permit's cancellation to the permit holder using 1 of the following methods:

    (a) For a permit that was canceled between 2011 and the day before the effective date of the amendatory act that added this sentence, by certified mail to the permit holder's address on file. The department shall send the notice within 60 days after the effective date of the amendatory act that added this sentence. The notice shall advise the permit holder that he or she may request reinstatement of the permit within 60 days after the date of the notice as provided in section 7a(16).

    (b) For a permit that was canceled on or after the effective date of the amendatory act that added this sentence, by certified mail to the permit holder's address on file. The department shall send the notice within 60 days after the date the permit was canceled. The notice shall advise the permit holder that he or she may request reinstatement of the permit within 60 days after the date of the notice as provided in section 7a(16).

    (5) Notwithstanding subsection (3), for permits having the same expiration date, the maximum amount of increased annual renewal fees for late payments that may be assessed by the department under this section against 1 permit holder is $10,000.00.

    (6) The department shall require a transfer fee when a request is made to transfer existing permits to a new sign owner. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the transfer fee is $100.00 for each permit that is requested to be transferred, up to a maximum of $500.00 for a request that identifies 5 or more permits to be transferred. If the department incurs additional costs directly attributable to special and unique circumstances associated with the requested transfer, the department may assess a transfer fee greater than the maximums identified in this subsection to recover those costs.