The Cary Town Council on Thursday agreed to temporarily relax its strict sign rules in an effort to spur home sales - a concession to the recession.

Open-house 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 temporary regulations also allow property owners to have up to five open houses per home per year, up from two.

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

The new rules passed unanimously but council members wondered how easy it would be to enforce and then, in exactly two years, phase out a new law.

Most agreed that if there were problems with sign clutter or rule-breaking, there would be enough political will to make future changes.

"I was really impressed with how the realtors established their own in-house self-enforcement program," said Councilwoman Julie Robison, referring to previous open-house sign restrictions.

Another passed amendment removes governance of works of art and holiday decorations from the sign ordinance.

Currently, art and holiday decorations are considered "signs exempt from regulation."

The rules went into effect on Thursday.

The council made several other decisions at Thursday's meeting, including:

Adult businesses: Adult businesses are now allowed to come into certain industrial areas near Raleigh-Durham International Airport without a special permit.

The Town Council voted 6-1 to approve the new land ordinance provision, which will still prevent strip clubs, adult video stores and other businesses from setting up in other parts of the town without permission.

Councilwoman Jennifer Robinson, who expressed her opposition to the zoning allowance last month, voted against the changes.

The provision was adopted to protect the town's legal standing - not encourage adult businesses, council members said.

Ethics: Council members directed staff to revise a town policy that prevents town staff and volunteer committee members from participating in discussion where they may have a perceived or real conflict of interest.

The request to look into the policy comes after Carla Sadtler, a member of the town's Planning and Zoning Board, was unable to speak at a public hearing earlier this month on a comprehensive transportation plan amendment that could directly impact her home.

Town staff will report back to the council with an amended policy.