The council has proposed that significant trees or vegetation should be declared on a municipal register.

Trees or vegetation on the register cannot be cut, trimmed, lopped or pruned without a permit.

The proposal is part of a report detailing local laws, which will be revised next year following a period of public consultation.

Under the changes, if a person is found guilty of an offence, they could be required to restore vegetation as well as face other penalties.

"This approach is deemed the most likely to be successful and to assist council in achieving its objective of reducing the removal of any significant trees or vegetation throughout the municipality," the report stated.

Knox Environment Society president Darren Wallace has welcomed the move. "Absolutely. I definitely support the registration of trees that residents and the broader community feel are important."

"I have absolute confidence that council would use their arborists as a means of determining the appropriateness of any trees to be recognised under the local law."

The review is part of a raft of local law changes being proposed, with rules involving pets and shopping trolleys also facing tighter restrictions.

The consultation period is on until February, following which laws will be adopted by April.