The City Council today approved an ordinance that will ban the installation of satellite dishes on the fronts of houses, on historic buildings and on fire escapes or other areas that could pose a public-safety risk.

Existing owners won't have to remove any offending dishes - unless they cancel their satellite-TV service.

City Councilors Sal LaMattina (East Boston, North End), who sponsored the measure, and Matt O'Malley (Jamaica Plain, West Roxbury) said the measure will improve neighborhood esthetics by reducing the number of mushroom-like dishes visible from the street and improve public safety by reducing the number of fire escapes and windows blocked by the devices.

The measure requires dish installers to file installation applications with the city Inspectional Services Department. Would-be dish owners petition ISD for permission to install a dish within public sight if they can prove that's the only location where their dishes would work.