(a)

(1) It is unlawful to operate any business engaged in the sale, distribution, manufacture, or storage of beer without a permit issued by the county or city where such business is located under the authority herein delegated to counties and cities.

(2) Permits shall be issued to the owner of the business or other entity responsible for the premises for which the permit is sought, whether a person, firm, corporation, joint-stock company, syndicate, association, or local governmental entity where the governing body has authorized such sales of beer.

(3) A permit shall be valid:

(A) Only for the owner to whom the permit is issued and cannot be transferred to another owner. If the owner is a corporation, a change in ownership shall occur when control of at least fifty percent (50%) of the stock of the corporation is transferred to a new owner;

(B) Only for a single location, except as provided in subdivision (a)(4), and cannot be transferred to another location. A permit shall be valid for all decks, patios and other outdoor serving areas that are contiguous to the exterior of the building in which the business is located and that are operated by the business; and

(C) Only for a business operating under the name identified in the permit application.

(4) Where an owner operates two (2) or more restaurants or other businesses within the same building, the owner may in the owner's discretion operate some or all such businesses pursuant to the same permit.

(5) A business can sell beer for both on-premises and off-premises consumption at the same location pursuant to one (1) permit.

(6) A permit holder must return a permit to the county or city that issued it within fifteen (15) days of termination of the business, change in ownership, relocation of the business or change of the business's name; provided, that notwithstanding the failure to return a beer permit, a permit shall expire on termination of the business, change in ownership, relocation of the business or change of the business's name.

(7) In the case of beer wholesalers, as defined in § 57-6-102, no county or city shall require a permit from a wholesaler unless such wholesaler operates a warehouse in such county or city.

(8) Any person, firm, corporation, joint-stock company, syndicate, or association engaged in the sale, distribution, or manufacture of beer without the permit required by this part commits a Class A misdemeanor.

(9) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as granting counties or cities the authority to require the periodic renewal of beer permits.

(10) After July 1, 2015, a city or county shall not issue a permit under this chapter unless the applicant has been a citizen or lawful resident of the United States for not less than one (1) year immediately preceding the date upon which the application is made to the city or county.

(b) For the purpose of licensing, regulating and controlling the transportation, storage, sale, distribution, possession, receipt and/or manufacture of beer pursuant to this chapter, the counties of the state shall be classified in two (2) categories, one (1) of which is hereby designated Class A counties consisting of those counties not governed by metropolitan governments as defined in § 7-2-101, and the other category is hereby designated Class B counties consisting of those counties governed by metropolitan governments as defined in § 7-2-101.

(c) When either “county” or “counties” is used in this chapter, it means counties generally without reference to the classification of counties provided for in this section, and the use of “county” or “counties” shall cause the provision limited by the word “county” or “counties” to apply equally to Class A counties and to Class B counties. When “county legislative body” or “county legislative bodies” is used in this chapter, it means “metropolitan council” or “metropolitan councils” when applicable to Class B counties.

(d)

(1) It is unlawful for any person to sell, distribute or manufacture beer without having a valid certificate indicating that purchases of beer by that person are “for resale” as that term is used in § 67-6-102(75)(A).

(2) Within ten (10) days after being issued a permit to sell, distribute or manufacture beer, a person shall file with the county or city issuing the permit and with each person from whom the person buys beer a copy of a valid certificate indicating that the purchases of beer are “for resale” as that term is used in § 67-6-102(75)(A), and shall subsequently maintain at all times a valid resale certificate on file with the county or city issuing the permit and with each person from whom the person buys beer.

(e) A city or county is authorized to seek criminal history background or fingerprint checks on applicants. Criminal background checks may include fingerprint checks against state and federal criminal records maintained by the Tennessee bureau of investigation and the federal bureau of investigation. The Tennessee bureau of investigation is authorized to assess fees for the searches in accordance with the fee schedule established by the bureaus.

(f) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no city or county shall deny the issuance or renewal of a permit upon the basis that the lease between the business and its municipal landlord includes a provision whereby gross sales, which may include or exclude liquor sales, are considered in the determination of a percentage rent or other rent calculation provision.