Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, in any county where the inhabitants number less than 2,500 and where on July 1 of any calendar year there exists in any such county none or only one on-sale general license and none or only one off-sale general license the department may issue one additional original on-sale general license and one additional original off-sale general license during the following 12-month period.

In issuing the licenses provided for in this section, the department shall follow the procedure set forth in Section 23961.

A license issued pursuant to this section shall not be transferred from one county to another.