diff --git a/changelog.d/12356.misc b/changelog.d/12356.misc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..43e192910
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/12356.misc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fix scripts-dev to pass typechecking.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/mypy.ini b/mypy.ini
index 280f1e898..ef2821641 100644
--- a/mypy.ini
+++ b/mypy.ini
@@ -24,10 +24,6 @@ files =
 # https://docs.python.org/3/library/re.html#re.X
 exclude = (?x)
   ^(
-   |scripts-dev/build_debian_packages.py
-   |scripts-dev/federation_client.py
-   |scripts-dev/release.py
-
    |synapse/storage/databases/__init__.py
    |synapse/storage/databases/main/cache.py
    |synapse/storage/databases/main/devices.py
@@ -308,6 +304,9 @@ ignore_missing_imports = True
 [mypy-pympler.*]
 ignore_missing_imports = True
 
+[mypy-redbaron.*]
+ignore_missing_imports = True
+
 [mypy-rust_python_jaeger_reporter.*]
 ignore_missing_imports = True
 
@@ -323,6 +322,9 @@ ignore_missing_imports = True
 [mypy-signedjson.*]
 ignore_missing_imports = True
 
+[mypy-srvlookup.*]
+ignore_missing_imports = True
+
 [mypy-treq.*]
 ignore_missing_imports = True
 
diff --git a/poetry.lock b/poetry.lock
index 8c7af1fa1..e27a44989 100644
--- a/poetry.lock
+++ b/poetry.lock
@@ -309,14 +309,15 @@ smmap = ">=3.0.1,<6"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "gitpython"
-version = "3.1.14"
-description = "Python Git Library"
+version = "3.1.27"
+description = "GitPython is a python library used to interact with Git repositories"
 category = "dev"
 optional = false
-python-versions = ">=3.4"
+python-versions = ">=3.7"
 
 [package.dependencies]
 gitdb = ">=4.0.1,<5"
+typing-extensions = {version = ">=3.7.4.3", markers = "python_version < \"3.8\""}
 
 [[package]]
 name = "hiredis"
@@ -1315,6 +1316,14 @@ category = "dev"
 optional = false
 python-versions = "*"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "types-commonmark"
+version = "0.9.2"
+description = "Typing stubs for commonmark"
+category = "dev"
+optional = false
+python-versions = "*"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "types-cryptography"
 version = "3.3.15"
@@ -1553,7 +1562,7 @@ url_preview = ["lxml"]
 [metadata]
 lock-version = "1.1"
 python-versions = "^3.7"
-content-hash = "f482a4f594a165dfe01ce253a22510d5faf38647ab0dcebc35789350cafd9bf0"
+content-hash = "3825cef058b8c9f520ef4b7acb92519be95db9a663a61c2e89a5fe431ed55655"
 
 [metadata.files]
 attrs = [
@@ -1766,8 +1775,8 @@ gitdb = [
     {file = "gitdb-4.0.9.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:bac2fd45c0a1c9cf619e63a90d62bdc63892ef92387424b855792a6cabe789aa"},
 ]
 gitpython = [
-    {file = "GitPython-3.1.14-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:3283ae2fba31c913d857e12e5ba5f9a7772bbc064ae2bb09efafa71b0dd4939b"},
-    {file = "GitPython-3.1.14.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:be27633e7509e58391f10207cd32b2a6cf5b908f92d9cd30da2e514e1137af61"},
+    {file = "GitPython-3.1.27-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:5b68b000463593e05ff2b261acff0ff0972df8ab1b70d3cdbd41b546c8b8fc3d"},
+    {file = "GitPython-3.1.27.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:1c885ce809e8ba2d88a29befeb385fcea06338d3640712b59ca623c220bb5704"},
 ]
 hiredis = [
     {file = "hiredis-2.0.0-cp36-cp36m-macosx_10_9_x86_64.whl", hash = "sha256:b4c8b0bc5841e578d5fb32a16e0c305359b987b850a06964bd5a62739d688048"},
@@ -2588,6 +2597,10 @@ types-bleach = [
     {file = "types-bleach-4.1.4.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:2d30c2c4fb6854088ac636471352c9a51bf6c089289800d2a8060820a01cd43a"},
     {file = "types_bleach-4.1.4-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:edffe173ed6d7b6f3543036a96204a9319c3bf6c3645917b14274e43f000cc9b"},
 ]
+types-commonmark = [
+    {file = "types-commonmark-0.9.2.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:b894b67750c52fd5abc9a40a9ceb9da4652a391d75c1b480bba9cef90f19fc86"},
+    {file = "types_commonmark-0.9.2-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:56f20199a1f9a2924443211a0ef97f8b15a8a956a7f4e9186be6950bf38d6d02"},
+]
 types-cryptography = [
     {file = "types-cryptography-3.3.15.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:a7983a75a7b88a18f88832008f0ef140b8d1097888ec1a0824ec8fb7e105273b"},
     {file = "types_cryptography-3.3.15-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:d9b0dd5465d7898d400850e7f35e5518aa93a7e23d3e11757cd81b4777089046"},
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index bdded7843..e6f2dc16c 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -251,6 +251,7 @@ flake8 = "*"
 mypy = "==0.931"
 mypy-zope = "==0.3.5"
 types-bleach = ">=4.1.0"
+types-commonmark = ">=0.9.2"
 types-jsonschema = ">=3.2.0"
 types-opentracing = ">=2.4.2"
 types-Pillow = ">=8.3.4"
@@ -270,7 +271,8 @@ idna = ">=2.5"
 
 # The following are used by the release script
 click = "==8.1.0"
-GitPython = "==3.1.14"
+# GitPython was == 3.1.14; bumped to 3.1.20, the first release with type hints.
+GitPython = ">=3.1.20"
 commonmark = "==0.9.1"
 pygithub = "==1.55"
 # The following are executed as commands by the release script.
diff --git a/scripts-dev/build_debian_packages.py b/scripts-dev/build_debian_packages.py
index e3e687868..38564893e 100755
--- a/scripts-dev/build_debian_packages.py
+++ b/scripts-dev/build_debian_packages.py
@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@ import subprocess
 import sys
 import threading
 from concurrent.futures import ThreadPoolExecutor
-from typing import Optional, Sequence
+from types import FrameType
+from typing import Collection, Optional, Sequence, Set
 
 DISTS = (
     "debian:buster",  # oldstable: EOL 2022-08
@@ -41,15 +42,17 @@ projdir = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__)))
 
 class Builder(object):
     def __init__(
-        self, redirect_stdout=False, docker_build_args: Optional[Sequence[str]] = None
+        self,
+        redirect_stdout: bool = False,
+        docker_build_args: Optional[Sequence[str]] = None,
     ):
         self.redirect_stdout = redirect_stdout
         self._docker_build_args = tuple(docker_build_args or ())
-        self.active_containers = set()
+        self.active_containers: Set[str] = set()
         self._lock = threading.Lock()
         self._failed = False
 
-    def run_build(self, dist, skip_tests=False):
+    def run_build(self, dist: str, skip_tests: bool = False) -> None:
         """Build deb for a single distribution"""
 
         if self._failed:
@@ -63,7 +66,7 @@ class Builder(object):
             self._failed = True
             raise
 
-    def _inner_build(self, dist, skip_tests=False):
+    def _inner_build(self, dist: str, skip_tests: bool = False) -> None:
         tag = dist.split(":", 1)[1]
 
         # Make the dir where the debs will live.
@@ -138,7 +141,7 @@ class Builder(object):
             stdout.close()
             print("Completed build of %s" % (dist,))
 
-    def kill_containers(self):
+    def kill_containers(self) -> None:
         with self._lock:
             active = list(self.active_containers)
 
@@ -156,8 +159,10 @@ class Builder(object):
                 self.active_containers.remove(c)
 
 
-def run_builds(builder, dists, jobs=1, skip_tests=False):
-    def sig(signum, _frame):
+def run_builds(
+    builder: Builder, dists: Collection[str], jobs: int = 1, skip_tests: bool = False
+) -> None:
+    def sig(signum: int, _frame: Optional[FrameType]) -> None:
         print("Caught SIGINT")
         builder.kill_containers()
 
diff --git a/scripts-dev/federation_client.py b/scripts-dev/federation_client.py
index 079d2f5ed..763dd02c4 100755
--- a/scripts-dev/federation_client.py
+++ b/scripts-dev/federation_client.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ import argparse
 import base64
 import json
 import sys
-from typing import Any, Optional
+from typing import Any, Dict, Optional, Tuple
 from urllib import parse as urlparse
 
 import requests
@@ -47,13 +47,14 @@ import signedjson.types
 import srvlookup
 import yaml
 from requests.adapters import HTTPAdapter
+from urllib3 import HTTPConnectionPool
 
 # uncomment the following to enable debug logging of http requests
 # from httplib import HTTPConnection
 # HTTPConnection.debuglevel = 1
 
 
-def encode_base64(input_bytes):
+def encode_base64(input_bytes: bytes) -> str:
     """Encode bytes as a base64 string without any padding."""
 
     input_len = len(input_bytes)
@@ -63,7 +64,7 @@ def encode_base64(input_bytes):
     return output_string
 
 
-def encode_canonical_json(value):
+def encode_canonical_json(value: object) -> bytes:
     return json.dumps(
         value,
         # Encode code-points outside of ASCII as UTF-8 rather than \u escapes
@@ -130,7 +131,7 @@ def request(
             sig,
             destination,
         )
-        authorization_headers.append(header.encode("ascii"))
+        authorization_headers.append(header)
         print("Authorization: %s" % header, file=sys.stderr)
 
     dest = "matrix://%s%s" % (destination, path)
@@ -139,7 +140,10 @@ def request(
     s = requests.Session()
     s.mount("matrix://", MatrixConnectionAdapter())
 
-    headers = {"Host": destination, "Authorization": authorization_headers[0]}
+    headers: Dict[str, str] = {
+        "Host": destination,
+        "Authorization": authorization_headers[0],
+    }
 
     if method == "POST":
         headers["Content-Type"] = "application/json"
@@ -154,7 +158,7 @@ def request(
     )
 
 
-def main():
+def main() -> None:
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
         description="Signs and sends a federation request to a matrix homeserver"
     )
@@ -212,6 +216,7 @@ def main():
     if not args.server_name or not args.signing_key:
         read_args_from_config(args)
 
+    assert isinstance(args.signing_key, str)
     algorithm, version, key_base64 = args.signing_key.split()
     key = signedjson.key.decode_signing_key_base64(algorithm, version, key_base64)
 
@@ -233,7 +238,7 @@ def main():
     print("")
 
 
-def read_args_from_config(args):
+def read_args_from_config(args: argparse.Namespace) -> None:
     with open(args.config, "r") as fh:
         config = yaml.safe_load(fh)
 
@@ -250,7 +255,7 @@ def read_args_from_config(args):
 
 class MatrixConnectionAdapter(HTTPAdapter):
     @staticmethod
-    def lookup(s, skip_well_known=False):
+    def lookup(s: str, skip_well_known: bool = False) -> Tuple[str, int]:
         if s[-1] == "]":
             # ipv6 literal (with no port)
             return s, 8448
@@ -276,7 +281,7 @@ class MatrixConnectionAdapter(HTTPAdapter):
             return s, 8448
 
     @staticmethod
-    def get_well_known(server_name):
+    def get_well_known(server_name: str) -> Optional[str]:
         uri = "https://%s/.well-known/matrix/server" % (server_name,)
         print("fetching %s" % (uri,), file=sys.stderr)
 
@@ -299,7 +304,9 @@ class MatrixConnectionAdapter(HTTPAdapter):
             print("Invalid response from %s: %s" % (uri, e), file=sys.stderr)
         return None
 
-    def get_connection(self, url, proxies=None):
+    def get_connection(
+        self, url: str, proxies: Optional[Dict[str, str]] = None
+    ) -> HTTPConnectionPool:
         parsed = urlparse.urlparse(url)
 
         (host, port) = self.lookup(parsed.netloc)
diff --git a/scripts-dev/mypy_synapse_plugin.py b/scripts-dev/mypy_synapse_plugin.py
index 1217e1487..c77586521 100644
--- a/scripts-dev/mypy_synapse_plugin.py
+++ b/scripts-dev/mypy_synapse_plugin.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 can crop up, e.g the cache descriptors.
 """
 
-from typing import Callable, Optional
+from typing import Callable, Optional, Type
 
 from mypy.nodes import ARG_NAMED_OPT
 from mypy.plugin import MethodSigContext, Plugin
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ def cached_function_method_signature(ctx: MethodSigContext) -> CallableType:
     return signature
 
 
-def plugin(version: str):
+def plugin(version: str) -> Type[SynapsePlugin]:
     # This is the entry point of the plugin, and let's us deal with the fact
     # that the mypy plugin interface is *not* stable by looking at the version
     # string.
diff --git a/scripts-dev/release.py b/scripts-dev/release.py
index 9d7c7c445..14f3f3a45 100755
--- a/scripts-dev/release.py
+++ b/scripts-dev/release.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ import sys
 import urllib.request
 from os import path
 from tempfile import TemporaryDirectory
-from typing import List, Optional
+from typing import Any, List, Optional, cast
 
 import attr
 import click
@@ -36,7 +36,9 @@ from github import Github
 from packaging import version
 
 
-def run_until_successful(command, *args, **kwargs):
+def run_until_successful(
+    command: str, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any
+) -> subprocess.CompletedProcess:
     while True:
         completed_process = subprocess.run(command, *args, **kwargs)
         exit_code = completed_process.returncode
@@ -50,7 +52,7 @@ def run_until_successful(command, *args, **kwargs):
 
 
 @click.group()
-def cli():
+def cli() -> None:
     """An interactive script to walk through the parts of creating a release.
 
     Requires the dev dependencies be installed, which can be done via:
@@ -81,7 +83,7 @@ def cli():
 
 
 @cli.command()
-def prepare():
+def prepare() -> None:
     """Do the initial stages of creating a release, including creating release
     branch, updating changelog and pushing to GitHub.
     """
@@ -161,7 +163,9 @@ def prepare():
         click.get_current_context().abort()
 
     # Switch to the release branch.
-    parsed_new_version: version.Version = version.parse(new_version)
+    # Cast safety: parse() won't return a version.LegacyVersion from our
+    # version string format.
+    parsed_new_version = cast(version.Version, version.parse(new_version))
 
     # We assume for debian changelogs that we only do RCs or full releases.
     assert not parsed_new_version.is_devrelease
@@ -176,7 +180,6 @@ def prepare():
             # If the release branch only exists on the remote we check it out
             # locally.
             repo.git.checkout(release_branch_name)
-            release_branch = repo.active_branch
     else:
         # If a branch doesn't exist we create one. We ask which one branch it
         # should be based off, defaulting to sensible values depending on the
@@ -198,13 +201,15 @@ def prepare():
             click.get_current_context().abort()
 
         # Check out the base branch and ensure it's up to date
-        repo.head.reference = base_branch
+        repo.head.set_reference(base_branch, "check out the base branch")
         repo.head.reset(index=True, working_tree=True)
         if not base_branch.is_remote():
             update_branch(repo)
 
         # Create the new release branch
-        release_branch = repo.create_head(release_branch_name, commit=base_branch)
+        # Type ignore will no longer be needed after GitPython 3.1.28.
+        # See https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/pull/1419
+        repo.create_head(release_branch_name, commit=base_branch)  # type: ignore[arg-type]
 
     # Switch to the release branch and ensure it's up to date.
     repo.git.checkout(release_branch_name)
@@ -265,7 +270,7 @@ def prepare():
 
 @cli.command()
 @click.option("--gh-token", envvar=["GH_TOKEN", "GITHUB_TOKEN"])
-def tag(gh_token: Optional[str]):
+def tag(gh_token: Optional[str]) -> None:
     """Tags the release and generates a draft GitHub release"""
 
     # Make sure we're in a git repo.
@@ -293,7 +298,12 @@ def tag(gh_token: Optional[str]):
 
     click.echo_via_pager(changes)
     if click.confirm("Edit text?", default=False):
-        changes = click.edit(changes, require_save=False)
+        edited_changes = click.edit(changes, require_save=False)
+        # This assert is for mypy's benefit. click's docs are a little unclear, but
+        # when `require_save=False`, not saving the temp file in the editor returns
+        # the original string.
+        assert edited_changes is not None
+        changes = edited_changes
 
     repo.create_tag(tag_name, message=changes, sign=True)
 
@@ -347,7 +357,7 @@ def tag(gh_token: Optional[str]):
 
 @cli.command()
 @click.option("--gh-token", envvar=["GH_TOKEN", "GITHUB_TOKEN"], required=True)
-def publish(gh_token: str):
+def publish(gh_token: str) -> None:
     """Publish release."""
 
     # Make sure we're in a git repo.
@@ -390,7 +400,7 @@ def publish(gh_token: str):
 
 
 @cli.command()
-def upload():
+def upload() -> None:
     """Upload release to pypi."""
 
     current_version = get_package_version()
@@ -418,7 +428,7 @@ def upload():
 
 
 @cli.command()
-def announce():
+def announce() -> None:
     """Generate markdown to announce the release."""
 
     current_version = get_package_version()
@@ -461,18 +471,19 @@ def get_package_version() -> version.Version:
 
 def find_ref(repo: git.Repo, ref_name: str) -> Optional[git.HEAD]:
     """Find the branch/ref, looking first locally then in the remote."""
-    if ref_name in repo.refs:
-        return repo.refs[ref_name]
+    if ref_name in repo.references:
+        return repo.references[ref_name]
     elif ref_name in repo.remote().refs:
         return repo.remote().refs[ref_name]
     else:
         return None
 
 
-def update_branch(repo: git.Repo):
+def update_branch(repo: git.Repo) -> None:
     """Ensure branch is up to date if it has a remote"""
-    if repo.active_branch.tracking_branch():
-        repo.git.merge(repo.active_branch.tracking_branch().name)
+    tracking_branch = repo.active_branch.tracking_branch()
+    if tracking_branch:
+        repo.git.merge(tracking_branch.name)
 
 
 def get_changes_for_version(wanted_version: version.Version) -> str:
@@ -536,7 +547,9 @@ def get_changes_for_version(wanted_version: version.Version) -> str:
     return "\n".join(version_changelog)
 
 
-def generate_and_write_changelog(current_version: version.Version, new_version: str):
+def generate_and_write_changelog(
+    current_version: version.Version, new_version: str
+) -> None:
     # We do this by getting a draft so that we can edit it before writing to the
     # changelog.
     result = run_until_successful(
@@ -558,8 +571,8 @@ def generate_and_write_changelog(current_version: version.Version, new_version:
         f.write(existing_content)
 
     # Remove all the news fragments
-    for f in glob.iglob("changelog.d/*.*"):
-        os.remove(f)
+    for filename in glob.iglob("changelog.d/*.*"):
+        os.remove(filename)
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
diff --git a/scripts-dev/sign_json.py b/scripts-dev/sign_json.py
index 945954310..bb217799f 100755
--- a/scripts-dev/sign_json.py
+++ b/scripts-dev/sign_json.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ from synapse.crypto.event_signing import add_hashes_and_signatures
 from synapse.util import json_encoder
 
 
-def main():
+def main() -> None:
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
         description="""Adds a signature to a JSON object.