The new rules ease standards for open house real estate signs. Open houses signs are now allowed to be up all day Saturday and Sunday.

The rules would revert to the original standard – open-house signs allowed from 10 a.m. Saturday to 6 p.m. Sunday – in 2012.

The regulations also allow property owners to have up to five open houses per home year, up from two.

“We’re reacting to a very unprecedented economic situation that doesn’t just an affect an industry ... but the Cary citizens that may be trying to sell their home that are affected,” Councilman Erv Portman said.