The Watauga County Commissioners passed a revision to ban future electronic billboard signs at a meeting they held Tuesday night.

According to county documents, flashing and moving signs are prohibited, but signs providing a public service like showing the time and temperature are exempt from the new ban.

No source of illumination on a sign, like floodlights, spotlights, unshielded bulbs, and others can shine directly into any public right of way.  Internal illumination also can’t be at an intensity that is distracting to vehicular traffic.

Newly erected advertising signs will also not be permitted and no existing advertising signs can be converted to or replaced with an electronic billboard.

The county commissioners’ decision only banned the creation of new billboards, so the three existing electronic billboards in Watauga County will stay put.