ROCKVILLE, Md. — They may be illegal now, but developers and realtors say the temporary signs that dot Montgomery County’s roadways are too important to ban.

At a Tuesday hearing before the Montgomery County Council, Evan Goldman, vice president of development with the realty group EYA, told council members that up to 50 percent of the people who visit EYA properties were directed to the sites by signs on area roadways.

A number of speakers from the real estate industry also said that the temporary signs not only helped those looking for new homes to find them, but also helped sellers attract potential buyers.

Goldman said his business would be happy to work with the county on coming up with acceptable regulations on size of signs, location and placement.

The problem? “These signs are already prohibited,” said Montgomery County Council President Nancy Floreen. “This is a fact.”

Under current county regulations, anyone posting a temporary sign in a county right-of-way needs to get a permit from the county. While hundreds of signs dot county roadways, there is not a single permit for a sign on file, according to the Department of Permitting Services.

Another county council member, George Leventhal, suggested an outright ban on the signs. He said he expects his proposed zoning text amendment to be tweaked if it passes.

The council’s Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee will hold a hearing on the zoning text amendment Sept. 12.