(a) The director may issue to qualified applicants licenses to sell at retail alcoholic liquor in the original package on premises not located in an incorporated city for use or consumption off the premises. No such license shall be issued to any applicant unless the applicant possesses all the qualifications required of other applicants for retailers’ licenses except the qualification of residency within a city.

No such license shall be issued to any applicant under this section unless the board of county commissioners of the county in which the premises for which licensure is sought are located adopts a resolution approving the issuance of such license. A certified copy of such resolution shall accompany the application for a license authorized by this section.

(b) If a license has been issued under the provisions of this section in the unincorporated area of a county and thereafter the premises so licensed are annexed to a city wherein retail liquor licenses may be issued, such license shall continue to be valid and may be renewed at the appropriate time even though the licensee does not reside in the city to which the area is annexed if the licensee otherwise is qualified and resides in the township in which the premises were located prior to annexation or in the city to which the premises have been annexed.

(c) Any retail license issued prior to the effective date of this act for premises not located in an incorporated city shall continue to be valid and such premises shall continue to be eligible for licensure if the board of county commissioners of the county in which the premises are located has adopted a resolution approving the issuance of such license. A certified copy of such resolution shall accompany the application for a license authorized by this subsection.