Section 6-904 - Issuance of license; renewal; inactive status; branch office license; application; feeA. The deputy director, on determining that the applicant is qualified and has paid the fees, shall issue a mortgage broker's license or a commercial mortgage broker's license to the applicant which is evidenced by a continuous certificate. The deputy director shall grant or deny a license within one hundred twenty days after receipt of the completed application and fees. An applicant who has been denied a license may not reapply for such a license before one year from the date of the previous application.B. For licenses approved on or before September 30, 2008, a licensee shall pay the renewal fee on or before September 30, 2008 and on or before December 31 for subsequent years beginning on or before December 31, 2009. Licenses not renewed by September 30, 2008 are suspended, and the licensee shall not act as a mortgage broker or a commercial mortgage broker until the license is renewed or a new license is issued pursuant to this article. A person may renew a suspended license by paying the renewal fee plus $25 for each day after September 30, 2008 that a license renewal fee is not received by the deputy director and making application for renewal as prescribed by the deputy director. Licenses which are not renewed by October 31, 2008 expire. A license shall not be granted to the holder of an expired license except as provided in this article for the issuance of an original license.C. For licenses approved on or before September 30, 2008, a licensee may request inactive status on or before September 30, 2008 for the following license year, and the license shall be placed on inactive status after payment to the deputy director of the inactive status renewal fee prescribed in section 6-126 and the surrender of the license to the deputy director. During inactive status, an inactive licensee is not required to maintain a bond and shall not act as a mortgage broker or a commercial mortgage broker. A licensee may not be on inactive status for more than two consecutive years, nor for more than four years in any ten-year period. The license is deemed expired on violation of any of the limitations of this subsection.D. For licenses approved after or renewed on September 30, 2008, a licensee shall pay the renewal fee on or before December 31, 2009 and on or before December 31 of each subsequent year. Licenses not renewed by December 31 are suspended, and the licensee shall not act as a mortgage broker or a commercial mortgage broker until the license is renewed or a new license is issued pursuant to this article. A person may renew a suspended license by paying the renewal fee plus $25 for each day after December 31 that a license renewal fee is not received by the deputy director and applying for renewal as prescribed by the deputy director. A license that is not renewed by January 31 expires. A license shall not be granted to the holder of an expired license except as provided in this article for the issuance of an original license.E. For licenses approved after or renewed on September 30, 2008, beginning in 2009 and each subsequent year, a licensee may request inactive status for the following license year if the licensee makes the request on or before December 31. The license shall be placed on inactive status after the licensee pays to the deputy director the inactive status renewal fee prescribed in section 6-126 and surrenders the license to the deputy director. During inactive status, an inactive licensee is not required to maintain a bond and shall not act as a mortgage broker or a commercial mortgage broker. A licensee may not be on inactive status for more than two consecutive years or for more than four years in any ten-year period. The license expires on violation of this subsection.F. An inactive licensee may return to active status notwithstanding the requirements of section 6-903, subsections C and D by making a written request to the deputy director for reactivation and paying the prorated portion of the annual assessment that would have been charged to the licensee. The licensee shall also provide the deputy director with proof that the licensee meets all of the other requirements for acting as a mortgage broker or a commercial mortgage broker, including required bond coverage or the deposit of a cash alternative.G. A licensee shall prominently display the mortgage broker license or commercial mortgage broker license in the office of the mortgage broker or commercial mortgage broker.H. Every licensed mortgage broker and licensed commercial mortgage broker shall designate and maintain a principal place of business in this state for the transaction of business. The license shall specify the address of the licensee's principal place of business. If a licensee wishes to maintain one or more locations in addition to a principal place of business, the licensee shall first obtain a branch office license from the deputy director and designate a person for each branch office to oversee the operations of that office. The licensee shall submit a fee as set forth in section 6-126 for each branch office license. If the deputy director determines that the applicant is qualified, the deputy director shall issue a branch office license indicating the address of the branch office. The licensee shall conspicuously display the branch office license in the branch office. If the address of the principal place of business or of any branch office is changed, the licensee shall immediately notify the deputy director of the change and the deputy director shall endorse the change of address on the license for a fee as prescribed in section 6-126.Amended by L. 2021, ch. 356,s. 201, eff. 9/29/2021.