Local News in Brief : Satellite Dish Ordinance Proposed

The Rancho Palos Verdes City Council has introduced an ordinance regulating the installation of satellite dish antennas.

The proposed ordinance sets a permit fee of $60 and states, among other things, that large antennas cannot be placed on extreme slopes and must be “substantially screened from view.” If permit conditions cannot be met, the applicant must go before the Planning Commission and neighbors will be notified.

If adopted at the next council meeting in two weeks, the ordinance will take effect 45 days later.

The ordinance was proposed by the council after a Federal Communications Commission ruling that said cities must enact reasonable regulations governing satellite dish antenna installations. According to the ruling, prohibitive regulations violate the First Amendment, said Robert Benard, city environmental services director. Currently the city code does not address the matter.

“We have a real problem trying to deny a satellite dish,” Councilman John McTaggart said.