A person may not establish, operate or maintain an automobile graveyard, automobile recycling business or junkyard without first obtaining a nontransferable permit from the municipal officers of the municipality in which the automobile graveyard, automobile recycling business or junkyard is to be located, or from the county commissioners of the county of any unorganized territory in which the automobile graveyard, automobile recycling business or junkyard is to be located. Permits issued to an automobile graveyard or junkyard under this section are valid until the first day of the following year; except that, beginning in calendar year 2004, permits issued to an automobile graveyard or junkyard under this section are valid until the first day of October of the following year. Permits issued to an automobile recycling business under this section are valid for 5 years from the date of issuance and are renewable provided that the permit holder furnishes a sworn statement, annually, on the anniversary date of the granting of the permit, that the facility complies with the standards of operation applicable at the time of issuance of the permit. A person operating a business that involves the recycling of automobiles may operate under a permit for an automobile graveyard or a permit for an automobile recycling business.   [PL 2003, c. 312, §7 (AMD).]