Before a person constructs, maintains, or operates a brewery or winery under this article, the person must apply to the department for a permit. The application must be in writing in a form the department prescribes. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the applicant must pay a biennial permit tax of two hundred dollars upon each brewery and on each commercial winery to be established and operated. The permit tax must be paid to and collected by the department before a permit is issued. However, the owner and operator of a winery who consumes in the operation only the fruits produced on his own farm or premises must pay a permit fee of ten dollars biennially. Permits under this section expire December biennially. The fees charged for permits for the operation of breweries and wineries must be prorated by reducing the permit cost by one-eighth January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 each year. A brewer or commercial wine manufacturer who begins business during one of these intervals must pay for the eighth of the permit period in which business is begun and for the eighth of the permit period during the remainder of the period. No refund may be made to a dealer who ceases business after obtaining a permit.