diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 47bbaa15d..0ce7fe86f 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@ include(FeatureSummary)
 include(MapnikOption)
 include(MapnikMinimumVersions)
 include(MapnikFindPackage)
-include(MapnikCopyDependencies)
 include(MapnikInstall)
+include(CTest)
 
 set(ADDITIONAL_LIBARIES_PATHS "" CACHE STRING "only used on windows. Pass directories containing the dlls that are missing. You can ignore this, if the build (verify_app step) runs successfully")
 mapnik_option(COPY_LIBRARIES_FOR_EXECUTABLES "copies required shared libaries (only windows) to the executable build directory" OFF)
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ mapnik_option(COPY_FONTS_AND_PLUGINS_FOR_EXECUTABLES "copies required plugins an
 mapnik_option(INSTALL_DEPENDENCIES "if ON, all dependencies (eg. required dlls) will be copied into CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX/MAPNIK_BIN_DIR." ON)
 
 mapnik_option(BUILD_SHARED_LIBS "build mapnik dynamic(ON) or static(OFF)" ON)
-mapnik_option(BUILD_TEST "builds the tests" ON)
+add_feature_info(BUILD_TESTING BUILD_TESTING "Adds tests")
 mapnik_option(USE_EXTERNAL_MAPBOX_GEOMETRY "Use a external mapnik/geometry.hpp. If off, use the submodule" OFF)
 mapnik_option(USE_EXTERNAL_MAPBOX_POLYLABEL "Use a external mapnik/polylabel. If off, use the submodule" OFF)
 mapnik_option(USE_EXTERNAL_MAPBOX_PROTOZERO "Use a external mapnik/protozero. If off, use the submodule" OFF)
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ set(MAPNIK_ARCHIVE_DIR ${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR} CACHE STRING "Install directory f
 set(MAPNIK_INCLUDE_DIR ${CMAKE_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR} CACHE STRING "Install directory for the headers")
 set(MAPNIK_CMAKE_DIR ${MAPNIK_LIB_DIR}/cmake/mapnik CACHE STRING "Install directory of the cmake targets")
 set(MAPNIK_PKGCONF_DIR ${MAPNIK_LIB_DIR}/pkgconfig CACHE STRING "Install directory for the .pc files for pkg-config")
-
+set(MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/out")
 if(WIN32)
     set(DEFAULT_PLUGINS_INSTALL_DIR ${MAPNIK_BIN_DIR}/mapnik/input)
 else()
@@ -296,9 +296,14 @@ if(USE_WEBP)
 endif()
 
 if(USE_CAIRO)
-    mapnik_find_package(Cairo REQUIRED)
+    if(WIN32)
+        mapnik_find_package(Cairo REQUIRED)
+        list(APPEND MAPNIK_OPTIONAL_LIBS Cairo::Cairo)
+    else()
+        pkg_check_modules(Cairo REQUIRED IMPORTED_TARGET cairo)
+        list(APPEND MAPNIK_OPTIONAL_LIBS PkgConfig::Cairo)
+    endif()
     list(APPEND MAPNIK_COMPILE_DEFS HAVE_CAIRO)
-    list(APPEND MAPNIK_OPTIONAL_LIBS Cairo::Cairo)
 endif()
 
 if(USE_PROJ)
@@ -372,10 +377,10 @@ add_subdirectory(demo)
 if(BUILD_BENCHMARK)
     add_subdirectory(benchmark)
 endif()
-if(BUILD_TEST)
-    enable_testing()
+if(BUILD_TESTING)
     add_subdirectory(test)
 endif()
+file(COPY fonts DESTINATION "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}")
 
 feature_summary(FILENAME "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/packages.log" WHAT PACKAGES_FOUND PACKAGES_NOT_FOUND INCLUDE_QUIET_PACKAGES)
 
diff --git a/benchmark/CMakeLists.txt b/benchmark/CMakeLists.txt
index 3a69241d7..60c4ff85f 100644
--- a/benchmark/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/benchmark/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -32,24 +32,13 @@ function(mapnik_create_benchmark)
     add_executable(${TARGET_NAME} ${ARGV0})
     target_include_directories(${TARGET_NAME} PRIVATE include)
     target_link_libraries(${TARGET_NAME} PRIVATE mapnik::agg mapnik::mapnik)
-
-    mapnik_copy_dependencies(TARGETS ${TARGET_NAME})
+    set_target_properties(${TARGET_NAME} PROPERTIES 
+        LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+        RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+        ARCHIVE_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/lib"
+    )
 endfunction()
 
 foreach(benchmark ${BENCHMARK_SRCS})
     mapnik_create_benchmark(${benchmark})
 endforeach()
-
-# we just need one target to reference the directory correctly. mapnik-benchmark-normalize_angle is just the first in BENCHMARK_SRCS
-mapnik_require_fonts(TARGET mapnik-benchmark-normalize_angle DESTINATION fonts)
-# copy all plugins
-mapnik_copy_plugins(TARGET mapnik-benchmark-normalize_angle
-    DESTINATION plugins/input 
-    PLUGINS 
-        input-csv input-gdal input-geobuf input-geojson input-ogr input-pgraster input-postgis input-raster input-shape input-sqlite input-topojson
-)
-# copy all plugin dlls.
-mapnik_copy_dependencies(TARGETS mapnik-benchmark-normalize_angle
-    PLUGINS 
-        input-csv input-gdal input-geobuf input-geojson input-ogr input-pgraster input-postgis input-raster input-shape input-sqlite input-topojson
-)
diff --git a/cmake/CopyDllsForDebug.cmake b/cmake/CopyDllsForDebug.cmake
deleted file mode 100644
index 3c0e118a6..000000000
--- a/cmake/CopyDllsForDebug.cmake
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,38 +0,0 @@
-# This is a helper script to run BundleUtilities fixup_bundle as postbuild
-# for a target. The primary use case is to copy .DLLs to the build directory for
-# the Windows platform. It allows generator expressions to be used to determine
-# the binary location
-#
-# Usage : copy_dlls_for_debug TARGET LIBS DIRS
-# - TARGET : A cmake target
-# - See fixup_bundle for LIBS and DIRS arguments
-
-if(RUN_IT)
-# Script ran by the add_custom_command
-	include(BundleUtilities)
-	include(InstallRequiredSystemLibraries)
-	string (REPLACE " " ";" TO_FIXUP_LIBS "${TO_FIXUP_LIBS}")
-	string (REPLACE " " ";" TO_FIXUP_DIRS "${TO_FIXUP_DIRS}")
-	#message(STATUS "${TO_FIXUP_FILE} ${TO_FIXUP_LIBS} ${TO_FIXUP_DIRS}")
-	fixup_bundle("${TO_FIXUP_FILE}" "${TO_FIXUP_LIBS}" "${TO_FIXUP_DIRS}")
-# End of script ran by the add_custom_command
-else()
-
-set(THIS_FILE ${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_FILE})
-function(copy_dlls_for_debug)
-	set(options)
-	set(oneValueArgs)
-	set(multiValueArgs TARGETS LIBS DIRS)
-	cmake_parse_arguments(MAPNIK_COPY_DLLS "${options}" "${oneValueArgs}" "${multiValueArgs}" ${ARGN})
-	if(WIN32)
-		foreach(_target IN LISTS MAPNIK_COPY_DLLS_TARGETS)
-			add_custom_command(
-				TARGET ${_target} POST_BUILD
-				COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} ARGS -DRUN_IT:BOOL=ON -DTO_FIXUP_FILE="$<TARGET_FILE:${_target}>" -DTO_FIXUP_LIBS:STRING="${MAPNIK_COPY_DLLS_LIBS}" -DTO_FIXUP_DIRS="${MAPNIK_COPY_DLLS_DIRS}" -P "${THIS_FILE}"
-				COMMENT "Fixing up dependencies for ${_target}"
-			)
-		endforeach()
-	endif(WIN32)
-endfunction()
-
-endif()
diff --git a/cmake/MapnikCopyDependencies.cmake b/cmake/MapnikCopyDependencies.cmake
deleted file mode 100644
index 4d14174a7..000000000
--- a/cmake/MapnikCopyDependencies.cmake
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,61 +0,0 @@
-function(mapnik_find_target_location)
-  set(options)
-  set(multiValueArgs TARGETS)
-  cmake_parse_arguments( WIG "${options}" "${oneValueArgs}" "${multiValueArgs}" ${ARGN})
-
-endfunction()
-
-function(mapnik_copy_dependencies)
-  if(COPY_LIBRARIES_FOR_EXECUTABLES AND WIN32)
-    set(options)
-    set(oneValueArgs)
-    set(multiValueArgs TARGETS PLUGINS)
-    cmake_parse_arguments(MAPNIK_CP_DEPS "${options}" "${oneValueArgs}" "${multiValueArgs}" ${ARGN})
-
-    include(CopyDllsForDebug)
-    foreach(TARGET IN LISTS MAPNIK_CP_DEPS_TARGETS)
-      add_custom_command(TARGET ${TARGET} POST_BUILD COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E copy "$<TARGET_FILE:mapnik::mapnik>" ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR})
-    endforeach()
-
-    set(LIBS "")
-    foreach(PLUGIN IN LISTS MAPNIK_CP_DEPS_PLUGINS)
-      if(TARGET ${PLUGIN}) # only copy plugins that are be build
-        list(APPEND LIBS "$<TARGET_FILE:${PLUGIN}>")
-      endif()
-    endforeach()
-    copy_dlls_for_debug(TARGETS ${MAPNIK_CP_DEPS_TARGETS} LIBS ${LIBS} DIRS ${ADDITIONAL_LIBARIES_PATHS})
-  endif()
-endfunction()
-
-function(mapnik_copy_plugins)
-  if(COPY_FONTS_AND_PLUGINS_FOR_EXECUTABLES)
-    set(options)
-    set(oneValueArgs TARGET DESTINATION)
-    set(multiValueArgs PLUGINS)
-    cmake_parse_arguments(MAPNIK_CP_PLG "${options}" "${oneValueArgs}" "${multiValueArgs}" ${ARGN})
-
-    # copy_if_different requires a existing directory.
-    file(MAKE_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/${MAPNIK_CP_PLG_DESTINATION})
-    foreach(PLUGIN IN LISTS MAPNIK_CP_PLG_PLUGINS)
-      #message(STATUS "copying plugin ${PLUGIN} to path: ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/${MAPNIK_CP_PLG_DESTINATION}")
-      if(TARGET ${PLUGIN})
-        add_custom_command(TARGET ${MAPNIK_CP_PLG_TARGET} POST_BUILD COMMAND 
-          ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E copy_if_different "$<TARGET_FILE:${PLUGIN}>" ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/${MAPNIK_CP_PLG_DESTINATION}/)
-      else()
-        message(NOTICE "${MAPNIK_CP_PLG_TARGET} requires plugin ${PLUGIN} but it isn't build. Check USE_PLUGIN_INPUT_ options to enable the plugin.")
-      endif()
-    endforeach()
-  endif()
-endfunction()
-
-function(mapnik_require_fonts)
-  if(COPY_FONTS_AND_PLUGINS_FOR_EXECUTABLES)
-    set(options)
-    set(oneValueArgs TARGET DESTINATION)
-    set(multiValueArgs)
-    cmake_parse_arguments(MAPNIK_REQUIRE_FONTS "${options}" "${oneValueArgs}" "${multiValueArgs}" ${ARGN})
-
-    add_custom_command(TARGET ${MAPNIK_REQUIRE_FONTS_TARGET} POST_BUILD COMMAND 
-        ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E copy_directory ${mapnik_SOURCE_DIR}/fonts ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/${MAPNIK_REQUIRE_FONTS_DESTINATION}/)
-  endif()
-endfunction()
diff --git a/cmake/MapnikInstall.cmake b/cmake/MapnikInstall.cmake
index 4d1d0bb4d..eb343032d 100644
--- a/cmake/MapnikInstall.cmake
+++ b/cmake/MapnikInstall.cmake
@@ -59,8 +59,6 @@ function(mapnik_install_utility _target)
     set_property(GLOBAL APPEND PROPERTY MAPNIK_UTILITIES ${_target})
 endfunction()
 
-
-
 function(mapnik_install_targets)
     if(INSTALL_DEPENDENCIES AND WIN32)
         # https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/policy/CMP0087.html
@@ -93,5 +91,4 @@ function(mapnik_install_targets)
             fixup_bundle(\"${_internal_executables}\" \"${_internal_libraries}\" \"${ADDITIONAL_LIBARIES_PATHS}\")
         " COMPONENT MapnikRuntime)
     endif()
-
 endfunction()
diff --git a/cmake/mapnikConfig.cmake.in b/cmake/mapnikConfig.cmake.in
index 942321e17..e0aee8778 100644
--- a/cmake/mapnikConfig.cmake.in
+++ b/cmake/mapnikConfig.cmake.in
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ set_and_check(MAPNIK_FONTS_DIR "@PACKAGE_FONTS_INSTALL_DIR@" CACHE STRING "")
 set(CMAKE_MODULE_PATH ${CMAKE_MODULE_PATH} "${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/Modules/")
 
 include(CMakeFindDependencyMacro)
+
+find_dependency(Threads REQUIRED)
 @MAPNIK_DEPENDENCIES@
 
 include("${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/mapnikTargets.cmake")
diff --git a/demo/c++/CMakeLists.txt b/demo/c++/CMakeLists.txt
index ffa2cb1a8..36e36d634 100644
--- a/demo/c++/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/demo/c++/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 project(mapnik-demo)
 
 add_executable(mapnik-demo rundemo.cpp)
+set_target_properties(mapnik-demo PROPERTIES 
+    LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    ARCHIVE_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/lib"
+)
 
 target_link_libraries(mapnik-demo PRIVATE mapnik::agg mapnik::mapnik)
-
-mapnik_copy_plugins(TARGET mapnik-demo DESTINATION plugins/input PLUGINS input-shape)
-mapnik_require_fonts(TARGET mapnik-demo DESTINATION fonts)
-mapnik_copy_dependencies(TARGETS mapnik-demo PLUGINS input-shape)
diff --git a/demo/viewer/CMakeLists.txt b/demo/viewer/CMakeLists.txt
index 445d5fa78..dcd4c5a58 100644
--- a/demo/viewer/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/demo/viewer/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@ set_target_properties(mapnik-viewer PROPERTIES
     AUTORCC ON    
     AUTOUIC ON
     AUTOMOC ON
+    LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    ARCHIVE_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/lib"
 )
 
 target_link_libraries(mapnik-viewer PRIVATE 
@@ -62,17 +65,3 @@ endif()
 
 install(FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/viewer.ini DESTINATION bin)
 mapnik_install_utility(mapnik-viewer)
-
-mapnik_copy_dependencies(
-    TARGETS 
-        mapnik-viewer 
-    PLUGINS 
-        input-csv input-gdal input-geobuf input-geojson input-ogr input-pgraster input-postgis input-raster input-shape input-sqlite input-topojson
-)
-
-mapnik_copy_plugins(TARGET mapnik-viewer 
-    DESTINATION 
-        ${PLUGINS_INSTALL_DIR}
-    PLUGINS 
-        input-csv input-gdal input-geobuf input-geojson input-ogr input-pgraster input-postgis input-raster input-shape input-sqlite input-topojson
-)
diff --git a/plugins/input/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/input/CMakeLists.txt
index 598f77f91..9a6f3cb0f 100644
--- a/plugins/input/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/input/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,36 +1,71 @@
 set(_plugin_prefix "")
 set(_plugin_suffix ".input")
 
+# add a list with all build plugins so the copy dependencies command can wait for all build events
+set(m_build_plugins "")
 if(USE_PLUGIN_INPUT_CSV)
     add_subdirectory(csv)
+    list(APPEND m_build_plugins input-csv)
 endif()
 if(USE_PLUGIN_INPUT_GDAL)
     add_subdirectory(gdal)
+    list(APPEND m_build_plugins input-gdal)
 endif()
 if(USE_PLUGIN_INPUT_GEOBUF)
     add_subdirectory(geobuf)
+    list(APPEND m_build_plugins input-geobuf)
 endif()
 if(USE_PLUGIN_INPUT_GEOJSON)
     add_subdirectory(geojson)
+    list(APPEND m_build_plugins input-geojson)
 endif()
 if(USE_PLUGIN_INPUT_OGR)
     add_subdirectory(ogr)
+    list(APPEND m_build_plugins input-ogr)
 endif()
 if(USE_PLUGIN_INPUT_PGRASTER)
     add_subdirectory(pgraster)
+    list(APPEND m_build_plugins input-pgraster)
 endif()
 if(USE_PLUGIN_INPUT_POSTGIS)
     add_subdirectory(postgis)
+    list(APPEND m_build_plugins input-postgis)
 endif()
 if(USE_PLUGIN_INPUT_RASTER)
     add_subdirectory(raster)
+    list(APPEND m_build_plugins input-raster)
 endif()
 if(USE_PLUGIN_INPUT_SHAPE)
     add_subdirectory(shape)
+    list(APPEND m_build_plugins input-shape)
 endif()
 if(USE_PLUGIN_INPUT_SQLITE)
     add_subdirectory(sqlite)
+    list(APPEND m_build_plugins input-sqlite)
 endif()
 if(USE_PLUGIN_INPUT_TOPOJSON)
     add_subdirectory(topojson)
+    list(APPEND m_build_plugins input-topojson)
+endif()
+
+#
+# Copy all plugin dlls, so that these are in the main output dir, since cmake copies those into ${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/plugins/input, too.
+#
+if(WIN32)
+    string(CONFIGURE
+        [[
+            file(GLOB m_deps "./*.dll")
+            message(STATUS "plugin deps: ${m_deps}")
+            file(COPY ${m_deps} DESTINATION "@MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR@")
+        ]] m_copy_dlls_str @ONLY
+    )
+    file (GENERATE OUTPUT "copy_dlls_$<CONFIG>.cmake" 
+        CONTENT "${m_copy_dlls_str}"
+    )
+    add_custom_target(copy_plugin_dependencies ALL
+        COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -P "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/copy_dlls_$<CONFIG>.cmake"
+        WORKING_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/plugins/input"
+        COMMENT "copying plugin dlls into build dir"
+    )
+    add_dependencies(copy_plugin_dependencies ${m_build_plugins})
 endif()
diff --git a/plugins/input/csv/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/input/csv/CMakeLists.txt
index 636f5f147..846870eb9 100644
--- a/plugins/input/csv/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/input/csv/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ set_target_properties(input-csv PROPERTIES
     OUTPUT_NAME "csv"
     PREFIX "${_plugin_prefix}"
     SUFFIX "${_plugin_suffix}"
+    LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/plugins/input"
+    RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    ARCHIVE_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/lib"
 )
-
 mapnik_install_plugin(input-csv)
diff --git a/plugins/input/gdal/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/input/gdal/CMakeLists.txt
index 6ae6336a4..ece9db01c 100644
--- a/plugins/input/gdal/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/input/gdal/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ set_target_properties(input-gdal PROPERTIES
     OUTPUT_NAME "gdal"
     PREFIX "${_plugin_prefix}"
     SUFFIX "${_plugin_suffix}"
+    LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/plugins/input"
+    RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    ARCHIVE_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/lib"
 )
-
 mapnik_install_plugin(input-gdal)
diff --git a/plugins/input/geobuf/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/input/geobuf/CMakeLists.txt
index 6406d528f..faf9a0ef1 100644
--- a/plugins/input/geobuf/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/input/geobuf/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ set_target_properties(input-geobuf PROPERTIES
     OUTPUT_NAME "geobuf"
     PREFIX "${_plugin_prefix}"
     SUFFIX "${_plugin_suffix}"
+    LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/plugins/input"
+    RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    ARCHIVE_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/lib"
 )
-
 mapnik_install_plugin(input-geobuf)
diff --git a/plugins/input/geojson/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/input/geojson/CMakeLists.txt
index e04b7a768..60f5db98d 100644
--- a/plugins/input/geojson/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/input/geojson/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ set_target_properties(input-geojson PROPERTIES
     OUTPUT_NAME "geojson"
     PREFIX "${_plugin_prefix}"
     SUFFIX "${_plugin_suffix}"
+    LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/plugins/input"
+    RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    ARCHIVE_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/lib"
 )
-
 mapnik_install_plugin(input-geojson)
diff --git a/plugins/input/ogr/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/input/ogr/CMakeLists.txt
index b149bd893..87917a9f0 100644
--- a/plugins/input/ogr/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/input/ogr/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ set_target_properties(input-ogr PROPERTIES
     OUTPUT_NAME "ogr"
     PREFIX "${_plugin_prefix}"
     SUFFIX "${_plugin_suffix}"
+    LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/plugins/input"
+    RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    ARCHIVE_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/lib"
 )
-
 mapnik_install_plugin(input-ogr)
diff --git a/plugins/input/pgraster/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/input/pgraster/CMakeLists.txt
index 7e6cb4dc7..5fdd60208 100644
--- a/plugins/input/pgraster/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/input/pgraster/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -15,5 +15,8 @@ set_target_properties(input-pgraster PROPERTIES
     OUTPUT_NAME "pgraster"
     PREFIX "${_plugin_prefix}"
     SUFFIX "${_plugin_suffix}"
+    LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/plugins/input"
+    RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    ARCHIVE_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/lib"
 )
 mapnik_install_plugin(input-pgraster)
diff --git a/plugins/input/postgis/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/input/postgis/CMakeLists.txt
index 667cfbd67..18d2ebf05 100644
--- a/plugins/input/postgis/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/input/postgis/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ set_target_properties(input-postgis PROPERTIES
     OUTPUT_NAME "postgis"
     PREFIX "${_plugin_prefix}"
     SUFFIX "${_plugin_suffix}"
+    LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/plugins/input"
+    RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    ARCHIVE_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/lib"
 )
-
 mapnik_install_plugin(input-postgis)
diff --git a/plugins/input/raster/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/input/raster/CMakeLists.txt
index 9b44540d3..c7bcc4c73 100644
--- a/plugins/input/raster/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/input/raster/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ set_target_properties(input-raster PROPERTIES
     OUTPUT_NAME "raster"
     PREFIX "${_plugin_prefix}"
     SUFFIX "${_plugin_suffix}"
+    LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/plugins/input"
+    RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    ARCHIVE_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/lib"
 )
-
 mapnik_install_plugin(input-raster)
diff --git a/plugins/input/shape/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/input/shape/CMakeLists.txt
index 1db71db7b..bc2f6c438 100644
--- a/plugins/input/shape/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/input/shape/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ set_target_properties(input-shape PROPERTIES
     OUTPUT_NAME "shape"
     PREFIX "${_plugin_prefix}"
     SUFFIX "${_plugin_suffix}"
+    LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/plugins/input"
+    RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    ARCHIVE_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/lib"
 )
-
 mapnik_install_plugin(input-shape)
diff --git a/plugins/input/sqlite/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/input/sqlite/CMakeLists.txt
index dedf98c3a..682978347 100644
--- a/plugins/input/sqlite/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/input/sqlite/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ set_target_properties(input-sqlite PROPERTIES
     OUTPUT_NAME "sqlite"
     PREFIX "${_plugin_prefix}"
     SUFFIX "${_plugin_suffix}"
+    LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/plugins/input"
+    RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    ARCHIVE_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/lib"
 )
-
 mapnik_install_plugin(input-sqlite)
diff --git a/plugins/input/topojson/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/input/topojson/CMakeLists.txt
index bd6f2cc67..3ff00894c 100644
--- a/plugins/input/topojson/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/input/topojson/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ set_target_properties(input-topojson PROPERTIES
     OUTPUT_NAME "topojson"
     PREFIX "${_plugin_prefix}"
     SUFFIX "${_plugin_suffix}"
+    LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/plugins/input"
+    RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    ARCHIVE_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/lib"
 )
-
 mapnik_install_plugin(input-topojson)
diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index 343a6d540..831563072 100644
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ set_target_properties(mapnik PROPERTIES
     VERSION ${MAPNIK_VERSION}
     # see https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/4248#issuecomment-925596509 => ABI compability only with the full version
     SOVERSION ${MAPNIK_VERSION}
+    LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    ARCHIVE_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/lib"
 )
 
 if(MSVC)
diff --git a/src/json/CMakeLists.txt b/src/json/CMakeLists.txt
index e427561d9..b35e0183a 100644
--- a/src/json/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/json/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@ set_target_properties(json PROPERTIES
     VERSION ${MAPNIK_VERSION} 
     # see mapnik target for explanation
     SOVERSION ${MAPNIK_VERSION}
+    LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    ARCHIVE_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/lib"
 )
 
 mapnik_install(json)
diff --git a/src/wkt/CMakeLists.txt b/src/wkt/CMakeLists.txt
index ff22be452..8e42bef69 100644
--- a/src/wkt/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/wkt/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ set_target_properties(wkt PROPERTIES
     VERSION ${MAPNIK_VERSION} 
     # see mapnik target for explanation
     SOVERSION ${MAPNIK_VERSION}
+    LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    ARCHIVE_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/lib"
 )
 
 mapnik_install(wkt)
diff --git a/test/CMakeLists.txt b/test/CMakeLists.txt
index 0705ddce1..4d28b9cc9 100644
--- a/test/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/test/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -100,6 +100,11 @@ add_executable(mapnik-test-unit
     unit/vertex_adapter/transform_path_adapter.cpp
     unit/vertex_adapter/vertex_adapter.cpp
 )
+set_target_properties(mapnik-test-unit PROPERTIES 
+    LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    ARCHIVE_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/lib"
+)
 target_link_libraries(mapnik-test-unit PUBLIC
     Catch2::Catch2 
     mapnik::agg
@@ -114,6 +119,11 @@ file(COPY cleanup.hpp DESTINATION "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}")
 target_include_directories(mapnik-test-unit PRIVATE "${catch2_SOURCE_DIR}/single_include/catch2" ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR})
 
 add_executable(agg_rasterizer_integer_overflow_test standalone/agg_rasterizer_integer_overflow_test.cpp)
+set_target_properties(agg_rasterizer_integer_overflow_test PROPERTIES 
+    LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    ARCHIVE_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/lib"
+)
 target_link_libraries(agg_rasterizer_integer_overflow_test PUBLIC
     Catch2::Catch2 
     mapnik::mapnik 
@@ -123,6 +133,11 @@ target_link_libraries(agg_rasterizer_integer_overflow_test PUBLIC
 target_include_directories(agg_rasterizer_integer_overflow_test PRIVATE "${catch2_SOURCE_DIR}/single_include/catch2" ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR})
 
 add_executable(datasource_registration_test standalone/datasource_registration_test.cpp)
+set_target_properties(datasource_registration_test PROPERTIES 
+    LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    ARCHIVE_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/lib"
+)
 target_link_libraries(datasource_registration_test PUBLIC
     Catch2::Catch2
     mapnik::mapnik 
@@ -131,6 +146,11 @@ target_link_libraries(datasource_registration_test PUBLIC
 target_include_directories(datasource_registration_test PRIVATE "${catch2_SOURCE_DIR}/single_include/catch2" ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR})
 
 add_executable(font_registration_test standalone/font_registration_test.cpp)
+set_target_properties(font_registration_test PROPERTIES 
+    LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    ARCHIVE_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/lib"
+)
 target_link_libraries(font_registration_test PUBLIC
     Catch2::Catch2 
     mapnik::mapnik 
@@ -141,6 +161,11 @@ target_include_directories(font_registration_test PRIVATE "${catch2_SOURCE_DIR}/
 
 #not workable since boost::filesystem native returns a wstring and the function taskes a std::string
 add_executable(map_xml_test standalone/map_xml_test.cpp)
+set_target_properties(map_xml_test PROPERTIES 
+    LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    ARCHIVE_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/lib"
+)
 target_link_libraries(map_xml_test PUBLIC
     Catch2::Catch2 
     mapnik::mapnik 
@@ -155,6 +180,11 @@ add_executable(mapnik-test-visual
     visual/runner.cpp
     visual/run.cpp
 )
+set_target_properties(mapnik-test-visual PROPERTIES 
+    LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    ARCHIVE_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/lib"
+)
 target_link_libraries(mapnik-test-visual PRIVATE
     Catch2::Catch2
     Boost::program_options
@@ -168,40 +198,34 @@ include(CTest)
 include("${catch2_SOURCE_DIR}/contrib/Catch.cmake")
 include("${catch2_SOURCE_DIR}/contrib/ParseAndAddCatchTests.cmake")
 
-# use only mapnik-test-unit since it has the same build path
-mapnik_copy_plugins(
-    TARGET mapnik-test-unit 
-    DESTINATION plugins/input 
-    PLUGINS 
-        input-csv input-gdal input-geobuf input-geojson input-ogr input-pgraster input-postgis input-raster input-shape input-sqlite input-topojson
-)
-mapnik_require_fonts(TARGET mapnik-test-unit DESTINATION fonts)
-
-mapnik_copy_dependencies(
-    TARGETS
-        mapnik-test-unit agg_rasterizer_integer_overflow_test datasource_registration_test font_registration_test map_xml_test mapnik-test-visual
-    PLUGINS 
-        input-csv input-gdal input-geobuf input-geojson input-ogr input-pgraster input-postgis input-raster input-shape input-sqlite input-topojson
-)
-
-
-file(COPY data DESTINATION "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/test")
-file(COPY data-visual DESTINATION "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/test")
-file(COPY unit/data DESTINATION "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/test/unit")
-file(COPY "${mapnik_SOURCE_DIR}/demo/data" DESTINATION "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/demo")
+file(COPY data DESTINATION "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/test")
+file(COPY data-visual DESTINATION "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/test")
+file(COPY unit/data DESTINATION "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/test/unit")
+file(COPY "${mapnik_SOURCE_DIR}/demo/data" DESTINATION "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/demo")
 add_dependencies(mapnik-test-unit mapnik-index shapeindex)
+
+set(m_proj_test_env "")
+if(DEFINED PROJ_LIB)
+    set(m_proj_test_env "PROJ_LIB=${PROJ_LIB}")
+elseif(DEFINED ENV{PROJ_LIB})
+    set(m_proj_test_env "PROJ_LIB=$ENV{PROJ_LIB}")
+endif()
+message(STATUS "using proj lib for unit tests: ${m_proj_test_env}")
+
 if(WIN32)
-    catch_discover_tests(mapnik-test-unit PROPERTIES
-        ENVIRONMENT "PATH=\$<JOIN:\$<SHELL_PATH:$<TARGET_FILE_DIR:mapnik-index>;$<TARGET_FILE_DIR:shapeindex>;$ENV{PATH}>,\\\\\\\\\;>"
-    )
+    set(m_test_path "\$<JOIN:\$<SHELL_PATH:$<TARGET_FILE_DIR:mapnik-index>;$<TARGET_FILE_DIR:shapeindex>;$ENV{PATH}>,\\\\\\\\\;>")
 else()
-    catch_discover_tests(mapnik-test-unit PROPERTIES 
-        ENVIRONMENT "PATH=$<SHELL_PATH:$<TARGET_FILE_DIR:shapeindex>;$<TARGET_FILE_DIR:mapnik-index>;$ENV{PATH}>"
-    )
+    set(m_test_path "$<SHELL_PATH:$<TARGET_FILE_DIR:shapeindex>;$<TARGET_FILE_DIR:mapnik-index>;$ENV{PATH}>")
 endif()
 
-
-catch_discover_tests(agg_rasterizer_integer_overflow_test)
-catch_discover_tests(datasource_registration_test)
-catch_discover_tests(font_registration_test)
-catch_discover_tests(map_xml_test)
+catch_discover_tests(mapnik-test-unit
+    WORKING_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+    PROPERTIES 
+        ENVIRONMENT 
+            "PATH=${m_test_path}"
+            ${m_proj_test_env}
+)
+catch_discover_tests(agg_rasterizer_integer_overflow_test WORKING_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}")
+catch_discover_tests(datasource_registration_test WORKING_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}")
+catch_discover_tests(font_registration_test WORKING_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}")
+catch_discover_tests(map_xml_test WORKING_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}")
diff --git a/utils/geometry_to_wkb/CMakeLists.txt b/utils/geometry_to_wkb/CMakeLists.txt
index 7266f72c6..09b395bff 100644
--- a/utils/geometry_to_wkb/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/utils/geometry_to_wkb/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -4,4 +4,8 @@ add_executable(geometry_to_wkb main.cpp)
 
 target_link_libraries(geometry_to_wkb PRIVATE mapnik::mapnik)
 
+set_target_properties(geometry_to_wkb PROPERTIES 
+    RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+)
+
 mapnik_install_utility(geometry_to_wkb)
diff --git a/utils/mapnik-index/CMakeLists.txt b/utils/mapnik-index/CMakeLists.txt
index 22925e1b5..fb3e2ae05 100644
--- a/utils/mapnik-index/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/utils/mapnik-index/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -15,4 +15,8 @@ target_link_libraries(mapnik-index PRIVATE
     Boost::program_options
 )
 
+set_target_properties(mapnik-index PROPERTIES 
+    RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+)
+
 mapnik_install_utility(mapnik-index)
diff --git a/utils/mapnik-render/CMakeLists.txt b/utils/mapnik-render/CMakeLists.txt
index b5e8fa1a5..09ff8d744 100644
--- a/utils/mapnik-render/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/utils/mapnik-render/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -9,4 +9,8 @@ target_link_libraries(mapnik-render PRIVATE
     Boost::program_options
 )
 
+set_target_properties(mapnik-render PROPERTIES 
+    RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+)
+
 mapnik_install_utility(mapnik-render)
diff --git a/utils/ogrindex/CMakeLists.txt b/utils/ogrindex/CMakeLists.txt
index 20ee5cf4e..b3c750dca 100644
--- a/utils/ogrindex/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/utils/ogrindex/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -4,4 +4,8 @@ add_executable(ogrindex ogrindex.cpp)
 
 target_link_libraries(ogrindex PRIVATE mapnik::mapnik)
 
+set_target_properties(ogrindex PROPERTIES 
+    RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+)
+
 mapnik_install_utility(ogrindex)
diff --git a/utils/pgsql2sqlite/CMakeLists.txt b/utils/pgsql2sqlite/CMakeLists.txt
index 7d7679987..e4540f37f 100644
--- a/utils/pgsql2sqlite/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/utils/pgsql2sqlite/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -16,4 +16,8 @@ target_link_libraries(pgsql2sqlite PRIVATE
     mapnik::mapnik
 )
 
+set_target_properties(pgsql2sqlite PROPERTIES 
+    RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+)
+
 mapnik_install_utility(pgsql2sqlite)
diff --git a/utils/shapeindex/CMakeLists.txt b/utils/shapeindex/CMakeLists.txt
index 3a8febb16..eef6169d0 100644
--- a/utils/shapeindex/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/utils/shapeindex/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -12,4 +12,8 @@ target_link_libraries(shapeindex PRIVATE
     mapnik::mapnik
 )
 
+set_target_properties(shapeindex PROPERTIES 
+    RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+)
+
 mapnik_install_utility(shapeindex)
diff --git a/utils/svg2png/CMakeLists.txt b/utils/svg2png/CMakeLists.txt
index ba2e9c89b..1f95d2827 100644
--- a/utils/svg2png/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/utils/svg2png/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -12,4 +12,8 @@ target_link_libraries(svg2png PRIVATE
     mapnik::agg
 )
 
+set_target_properties(svg2png PROPERTIES 
+    RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}"
+)
+
 mapnik_install_utility(svg2png)