diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index dc30e0b67..9de080db4 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -47,15 +47,23 @@ option(BUILD_UTILITY_PGSQL2SQLITE "builds the utility program pgsql2sqlite" ON)
 option(BUILD_UTILITY_SHAPEINDEX "builds the utility program shapeindex" ON)
 option(BUILD_UTILITY_SVG2PNG "builds the utility program svg2png" ON)
 
+set(PLUGINS_INSTALL_DIR bin/plugins/input CACHE STRING "installs the plugins in the specified directory")
+get_filename_component(ABSOLUTE_PLUGINS_INSTALL_DIR ${PLUGINS_INSTALL_DIR} ABSOLUTE)
+message("Installing plugins to ${ABSOLUTE_PLUGINS_INSTALL_DIR}")
+set(FONTS_INSTALL_DIR bin/fonts CACHE STRING "installs the fonts in the specified directory")
+get_filename_component(ABSOLUTE_FONTS_INSTALL_DIR ${FONTS_INSTALL_DIR} ABSOLUTE)
+message("Installing fonts to ${FONTS_INSTALL_DIR}")
+
+
 set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 14)
 
-find_package(Boost 1.74 REQUIRED COMPONENTS filesystem system regex program_options)
+find_package(Boost 1.74 REQUIRED COMPONENTS filesystem system regex)
 find_package(ICU REQUIRED COMPONENTS uc)
 find_package(Freetype REQUIRED)
 find_package(harfbuzz CONFIG REQUIRED)
 
 if(USE_EXTERNAL_MAPBOX_GEOMETRY)
-    # provide a way to specify the include dirs with the CACHE VARIABLES
+    # this is used to provide a way to specify include dirs with CACHE VARIABLES
     if(NOT MAPBOX_GEOMETRY_INCLUDE_DIRS)
         message(STATUS "Searching for the include dir of mapbox/geometry.hpp")
         find_path(MAPBOX_GEOMETRY_INCLUDE_DIRS "mapbox/geometry.hpp" REQUIRED)
@@ -179,16 +187,14 @@ endif()
 add_library(headers INTERFACE)
 add_library(mapnik::headers ALIAS headers)
 
-# todo: mapbox includes need to included private.
 target_include_directories(headers INTERFACE  
     $<BUILD_INTERFACE:${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/include>  
+    $<BUILD_INTERFACE:${MAPBOX_GEOMETRY_INCLUDE_DIRS}>
+    $<BUILD_INTERFACE:${MAPBOX_POLYLABEL_INCLUDE_DIRS}>
+    $<BUILD_INTERFACE:${MAPBOX_VARIANT_INCLUDE_DIRS}>
+    $<BUILD_INTERFACE:${MAPBOX_PROTOZERO_INCLUDE_DIRS}>
+    $<BUILD_INTERFACE:${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/deps>
     $<INSTALL_INTERFACE:include>
-    ${MAPBOX_GEOMETRY_INCLUDE_DIRS}
-    ${MAPBOX_POLYLABEL_INCLUDE_DIRS}
-    ${MAPBOX_VARIANT_INCLUDE_DIRS}
-    ${MAPBOX_PROTOZERO_INCLUDE_DIRS}
-    $<BUILD_INTERFACE:${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/deps>  
-    $<INSTALL_INTERFACE:deps>
 )
 target_link_libraries(headers INTERFACE 
     Boost::boost
@@ -220,8 +226,12 @@ if(BUILD_TEST)
     add_subdirectory(test)
 endif()
 
-
+# start package mapnik
 include(CMakePackageConfigHelpers)
+
+# set the cmake targets install location
+set(INSTALL_CMAKE_DIR lib/cmake)
+set(INCLUDE_INSTALL_DIR include/)
 write_basic_package_version_file(
   "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/MapnikConfigVersion.cmake"
   VERSION ${PROJECT_VERSION}
@@ -230,20 +240,21 @@ write_basic_package_version_file(
 
 configure_package_config_file(${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake/MapnikConfig.cmake.in
   "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/MapnikConfig.cmake"
-  INSTALL_DESTINATION lib/cmake/mapnik
+  INSTALL_DESTINATION ${INSTALL_CMAKE_DIR}
+  PATH_VARS INCLUDE_INSTALL_DIR PLUGINS_INSTALL_DIR FONTS_INSTALL_DIR
 )
 
 install(FILES
           "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/MapnikConfig.cmake"
           "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/MapnikConfigVersion.cmake"
-        DESTINATION lib/cmake/mapnik
+        DESTINATION ${INSTALL_CMAKE_DIR}
 )
 install(EXPORT MapnikTargets
         FILE MapnikTargets.cmake
         NAMESPACE mapnik::
-        DESTINATION lib/cmake/mapnik
+        DESTINATION ${INSTALL_CMAKE_DIR}
 )
 
 install(DIRECTORY include/ TYPE INCLUDE)
 install(DIRECTORY deps/agg/include/ TYPE INCLUDE)
-install(DIRECTORY fonts/ DESTINATION bin/fonts FILES_MATCHING PATTERN "*.py" EXCLUDE PATTERN "*")
+install(DIRECTORY fonts/ DESTINATION ${FONTS_INSTALL_DIR} FILES_MATCHING PATTERN "*.py" EXCLUDE PATTERN "*")
diff --git a/cmake/MapnikConfig.cmake.in b/cmake/MapnikConfig.cmake.in
index 4a1773f42..3075df2d9 100644
--- a/cmake/MapnikConfig.cmake.in
+++ b/cmake/MapnikConfig.cmake.in
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 @PACKAGE_INIT@
 
+set_and_check(MAPNIK_INCLUDE_DIR "@PACKAGE_INCLUDE_INSTALL_DIR@" CACHE STRING "")
+set_and_check(MAPNIK_PLUGINS_DIR "@PACKAGE_PLUGINS_INSTALL_DIR@" CACHE STRING "")
+set_and_check(MAPNIK_PLUGINS_DIR "@PACKAGE_FONTS_INSTALL_DIR@" CACHE STRING "")
+
 include("${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/MapnikTargets.cmake")
 
 check_required_components(mapnik)
diff --git a/demo/viewer/CMakeLists.txt b/demo/viewer/CMakeLists.txt
index bc4aa0dc3..721b76195 100644
--- a/demo/viewer/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/demo/viewer/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@ target_link_libraries(mapnik-viewer PRIVATE
 )
 file(WRITE ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/viewer.ini 
 "[mapnik]
-plugins_dir=plugins/input
-fonts/1/dir=fonts"
+plugins_dir=${ABSOLUTE_PLUGINS_INSTALL_DIR}
+fonts/1/dir=${ABSOLUTE_FONTS_INSTALL_DIR}"
 )
 install(FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/viewer.ini DESTINATION bin)
 install(TARGETS mapnik-viewer 
diff --git a/plugins/input/csv/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/input/csv/CMakeLists.txt
index 4597cee15..bef173f84 100644
--- a/plugins/input/csv/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/input/csv/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -22,7 +22,5 @@ set_target_properties(input-csv PROPERTIES SUFFIX ".input")
 #install(TARGETS input-csv DESTINATION bin/plugins/input)
 
 install(TARGETS input-csv 
-    LIBRARY DESTINATION lib/plugins/input
-    ARCHIVE DESTINATION lib/plugins/input
-    RUNTIME DESTINATION bin/plugins/input
+    RUNTIME DESTINATION ${PLUGINS_INSTALL_DIR}
 )
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/plugins/input/gdal/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/input/gdal/CMakeLists.txt
index 4c2919cc1..366b3f920 100644
--- a/plugins/input/gdal/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/input/gdal/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -20,7 +20,5 @@ set_target_properties(input-gdal PROPERTIES OUTPUT_NAME "gdal")
 set_target_properties(input-gdal PROPERTIES SUFFIX ".input")
 
 install(TARGETS input-gdal 
-    LIBRARY DESTINATION lib/plugins/input
-    ARCHIVE DESTINATION lib/plugins/input
-    RUNTIME DESTINATION bin/plugins/input
+    RUNTIME DESTINATION ${PLUGINS_INSTALL_DIR}
 )
diff --git a/plugins/input/geobuf/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/input/geobuf/CMakeLists.txt
index 75bd7af2a..3e36629ea 100644
--- a/plugins/input/geobuf/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/input/geobuf/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -16,7 +16,5 @@ set_target_properties(input-geobuf PROPERTIES OUTPUT_NAME "geobuf")
 set_target_properties(input-geobuf PROPERTIES SUFFIX ".input")
 
 install(TARGETS input-geobuf 
-    LIBRARY DESTINATION lib/plugins/input
-    ARCHIVE DESTINATION lib/plugins/input
-    RUNTIME DESTINATION bin/plugins/input
-)
+    RUNTIME DESTINATION ${PLUGINS_INSTALL_DIR}
+)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/plugins/input/geojson/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/input/geojson/CMakeLists.txt
index d8f945e0c..26a0821a2 100644
--- a/plugins/input/geojson/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/input/geojson/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -20,7 +20,5 @@ set_target_properties(input-geojson PROPERTIES OUTPUT_NAME "geojson")
 set_target_properties(input-geojson PROPERTIES SUFFIX ".input")
 
 install(TARGETS input-geojson 
-    LIBRARY DESTINATION lib/plugins/input
-    ARCHIVE DESTINATION lib/plugins/input
-    RUNTIME DESTINATION bin/plugins/input
+    RUNTIME DESTINATION ${PLUGINS_INSTALL_DIR}
 )
diff --git a/plugins/input/ogr/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/input/ogr/CMakeLists.txt
index 034311c7e..c01c6bb5f 100644
--- a/plugins/input/ogr/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/input/ogr/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -22,7 +22,5 @@ set_target_properties(input-ogr PROPERTIES OUTPUT_NAME "ogr")
 set_target_properties(input-ogr PROPERTIES SUFFIX ".input")
 
 install(TARGETS input-ogr 
-    LIBRARY DESTINATION lib/plugins/input
-    ARCHIVE DESTINATION lib/plugins/input
-    RUNTIME DESTINATION bin/plugins/input
+    RUNTIME DESTINATION ${PLUGINS_INSTALL_DIR}
 )
diff --git a/plugins/input/pgraster/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/input/pgraster/CMakeLists.txt
index 20ae20760..a6166128d 100644
--- a/plugins/input/pgraster/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/input/pgraster/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -21,7 +21,5 @@ set_target_properties(input-pgraster PROPERTIES OUTPUT_NAME "pgraster")
 set_target_properties(input-pgraster PROPERTIES SUFFIX ".input")
 
 install(TARGETS input-pgraster 
-    LIBRARY DESTINATION lib/plugins/input
-    ARCHIVE DESTINATION lib/plugins/input
-    RUNTIME DESTINATION bin/plugins/input
+    RUNTIME DESTINATION ${PLUGINS_INSTALL_DIR}
 )
diff --git a/plugins/input/postgis/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/input/postgis/CMakeLists.txt
index 3085e6246..ba3192a98 100644
--- a/plugins/input/postgis/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/input/postgis/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -20,7 +20,5 @@ set_target_properties(input-postgis PROPERTIES OUTPUT_NAME "postgis")
 set_target_properties(input-postgis PROPERTIES SUFFIX ".input")
 
 install(TARGETS input-postgis 
-    LIBRARY DESTINATION lib/plugins/input
-    ARCHIVE DESTINATION lib/plugins/input
-    RUNTIME DESTINATION bin/plugins/input
+    RUNTIME DESTINATION ${PLUGINS_INSTALL_DIR}
 )
diff --git a/plugins/input/raster/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/input/raster/CMakeLists.txt
index 557668536..2aed0fdc0 100644
--- a/plugins/input/raster/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/input/raster/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -18,7 +18,5 @@ set_target_properties(input-raster PROPERTIES OUTPUT_NAME "raster")
 set_target_properties(input-raster PROPERTIES SUFFIX ".input")
 
 install(TARGETS input-raster 
-    LIBRARY DESTINATION lib/plugins/input
-    ARCHIVE DESTINATION lib/plugins/input
-    RUNTIME DESTINATION bin/plugins/input
+    RUNTIME DESTINATION ${PLUGINS_INSTALL_DIR}
 )
diff --git a/plugins/input/shape/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/input/shape/CMakeLists.txt
index 64beadd57..6753eb9de 100644
--- a/plugins/input/shape/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/input/shape/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -21,7 +21,5 @@ set_target_properties(input-shape PROPERTIES OUTPUT_NAME "shape")
 set_target_properties(input-shape PROPERTIES SUFFIX ".input")
 
 install(TARGETS input-shape 
-    LIBRARY DESTINATION lib/plugins/input
-    ARCHIVE DESTINATION lib/plugins/input
-    RUNTIME DESTINATION bin/plugins/input
+    RUNTIME DESTINATION ${PLUGINS_INSTALL_DIR}
 )
diff --git a/plugins/input/sqlite/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/input/sqlite/CMakeLists.txt
index 8b4a57cff..439d19dfb 100644
--- a/plugins/input/sqlite/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/input/sqlite/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -20,7 +20,5 @@ set_target_properties(input-sqlite PROPERTIES OUTPUT_NAME "sqlite")
 set_target_properties(input-sqlite PROPERTIES SUFFIX ".input")
 
 install(TARGETS input-sqlite
-    LIBRARY DESTINATION lib/plugins/input
-    ARCHIVE DESTINATION lib/plugins/input
-    RUNTIME DESTINATION bin/plugins/input
+    RUNTIME DESTINATION ${PLUGINS_INSTALL_DIR}
 )
diff --git a/plugins/input/topojson/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/input/topojson/CMakeLists.txt
index f727a5e19..6b3ffb16f 100644
--- a/plugins/input/topojson/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/input/topojson/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -18,7 +18,5 @@ set_target_properties(input-topojson PROPERTIES OUTPUT_NAME "topojson")
 set_target_properties(input-topojson PROPERTIES SUFFIX ".input")
 
 install(TARGETS input-topojson 
-    LIBRARY DESTINATION lib/plugins/input
-    ARCHIVE DESTINATION lib/plugins/input
-    RUNTIME DESTINATION bin/plugins/input
+    RUNTIME DESTINATION ${PLUGINS_INSTALL_DIR}
 )
diff --git a/test/CMakeLists.txt b/test/CMakeLists.txt
index 400931134..a73a0f288 100644
--- a/test/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/test/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 project(mapnik-test)
 
+find_package(Boost 1.74 REQUIRED COMPONENTS program_options)
+
 include(FetchContent)
 include(CopyDllsForDebug)
 
@@ -14,8 +16,6 @@ set(CATCH_INCLUDE_DIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR})
 add_library(Catch INTERFACE)
 target_include_directories(Catch INTERFACE ${CATCH_INCLUDE_DIR})
 
-
-
 add_executable(mapnik-test-unit 
     unit/run.cpp
     unit/color/css_color.cpp
diff --git a/utils/geometry_to_wkb/CMakeLists.txt b/utils/geometry_to_wkb/CMakeLists.txt
index b6ec671bc..adb0c8409 100644
--- a/utils/geometry_to_wkb/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/utils/geometry_to_wkb/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+project(geometry_to_wkb)
+
 add_executable(geometry_to_wkb main.cpp)
 
 target_link_libraries(geometry_to_wkb PRIVATE 
diff --git a/utils/mapnik-index/CMakeLists.txt b/utils/mapnik-index/CMakeLists.txt
index b06de87b2..e2c8f2cfb 100644
--- a/utils/mapnik-index/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/utils/mapnik-index/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+project(mapnik-index)
+
+find_package(Boost 1.74 REQUIRED COMPONENTS program_options)
+
 add_executable(mapnik-index
     mapnik-index.cpp
     process_csv_file.cpp
diff --git a/utils/mapnik-render/CMakeLists.txt b/utils/mapnik-render/CMakeLists.txt
index 0e2e6cd10..b8dde3cd6 100644
--- a/utils/mapnik-render/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/utils/mapnik-render/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+project(mapnik-render)
+
+find_package(Boost 1.74 REQUIRED COMPONENTS program_options)
+
 add_executable(mapnik-render mapnik-render.cpp)
 
 target_link_libraries(mapnik-render PRIVATE 
diff --git a/utils/ogrindex/CMakeLists.txt b/utils/ogrindex/CMakeLists.txt
index eafa23289..7ecad8db9 100644
--- a/utils/ogrindex/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/utils/ogrindex/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+project(ogrindex)
+
 add_executable(ogrindex ogrindex.cpp)
 
 
diff --git a/utils/pgsql2sqlite/CMakeLists.txt b/utils/pgsql2sqlite/CMakeLists.txt
index 3ba2f66bc..baa4ff156 100644
--- a/utils/pgsql2sqlite/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/utils/pgsql2sqlite/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-
+project(pgsql2sqlite)
+find_package(Boost 1.74 REQUIRED COMPONENTS program_options)
 find_package(SQLite3 REQUIRED)
 find_package(PostgreSQL REQUIRED)
 
diff --git a/utils/shapeindex/CMakeLists.txt b/utils/shapeindex/CMakeLists.txt
index 92ab1594a..b1a555d77 100644
--- a/utils/shapeindex/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/utils/shapeindex/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+project(shapeindex)
+
+find_package(Boost 1.74 REQUIRED COMPONENTS program_options)
+
 add_executable(shapeindex 
     shapeindex.cpp
 )
diff --git a/utils/svg2png/CMakeLists.txt b/utils/svg2png/CMakeLists.txt
index b0819685b..eb1021903 100644
--- a/utils/svg2png/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/utils/svg2png/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+project(svg2png)
+
+find_package(Boost 1.74 REQUIRED COMPONENTS program_options)
+
 add_executable(svg2png 
     svg2png.cpp
 )