diff --git a/changelog.d/12967.removal b/changelog.d/12967.removal
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..0aafd6a4d914
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/12967.removal
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Drop tables used for groups/communities.
diff --git a/synapse/_scripts/synapse_port_db.py b/synapse/_scripts/synapse_port_db.py
index 361b51d2fa2d..1cbb69d2c163 100755
--- a/synapse/_scripts/synapse_port_db.py
+++ b/synapse/_scripts/synapse_port_db.py
@@ -167,22 +167,6 @@
     "ui_auth_sessions",
     "ui_auth_sessions_credentials",
     "ui_auth_sessions_ips",
-    # Groups/communities is no longer supported.
-    "group_attestations_remote",
-    "group_attestations_renewals",
-    "group_invites",
-    "group_roles",
-    "group_room_categories",
-    "group_rooms",
-    "group_summary_roles",
-    "group_summary_room_categories",
-    "group_summary_rooms",
-    "group_summary_users",
-    "group_users",
-    "groups",
-    "local_group_membership",
-    "local_group_updates",
-    "remote_profile_cache",
 }
 
 
diff --git a/synapse/storage/schema/__init__.py b/synapse/storage/schema/__init__.py
index 5843fae6057d..f303d965287b 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/schema/__init__.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/schema/__init__.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-SCHEMA_VERSION = 71  # remember to update the list below when updating
+SCHEMA_VERSION = 72  # remember to update the list below when updating
 """Represents the expectations made by the codebase about the database schema
 
 This should be incremented whenever the codebase changes its requirements on the
@@ -75,10 +75,9 @@
 
 
 SCHEMA_COMPAT_VERSION = (
-    # We now assume that `device_lists_changes_in_room` has been filled out for
-    # recent device_list_updates.
-    # ... and that `application_services_state.last_txn` is not used.
-    69
+    # We now assume that `event_edges.room_id` is unused
+    # ... and that tables related to groups are unused.
+    71
 )
 """Limit on how far the synapse codebase can be rolled back without breaking db compat
 
diff --git a/synapse/storage/schema/main/delta/70/03remove_groups.sql b/synapse/storage/schema/main/delta/70/03remove_groups.sql
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..b7c5894de877
--- /dev/null
+++ b/synapse/storage/schema/main/delta/70/03remove_groups.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+/* Copyright 2022 The Matrix.org Foundation C.I.C
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+-- Remove the tables which powered the unspecced groups/communities feature.
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS group_attestations_remote;
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS group_attestations_renewals;
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS group_invites;
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS group_roles;
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS group_room_categories;
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS group_rooms;
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS group_summary_roles;
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS group_summary_room_categories;
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS group_summary_rooms;
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS group_summary_users;
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS group_users;
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS groups;
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS local_group_membership;
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS local_group_updates;
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS remote_profile_cache;